FAQ

(Q): Is there a stipend associated with participating in the Summer of CS workshops happening in June 2023 and July 2023?

(A): Yes, California classroom educators who are teachers-in-charge consistently and paraprofessionals will receive $175 per day (6 hours) incentive for active participation in the Summer of CS offerings. Most workshops are 3-day or 5-day workshops, with some exceptions. Registrations will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Registrations are confirmed upon receipt of a signed participation agreement from each registrant and their respective supervisor.

The Seasons of CS Team is here to support you throughout the year as you embark on your computer science learning pathway! Since this is a yearlong professional development opportunity, you not only get free access to any Summer of CS workshop you choose, you also are guaranteed additional academic year workshops of just-in-time support where you will meet virtually after school with your workshop provider to reinforce, reflect, and extend your learning. These workshop meetings will be daily during the weeks listed below. Workshop time will be a mix of synchronous and asynchronous time. Synchronous time will be specified by your workshop Facilitator. You will be paid a $175 incentive for every 6 hours of ongoing professional learning.

For Grades K-5: September 11-14, 2023 (4-5:30pm) and March 11-14, 2024 (4-5:30pm).
For Grades 6-12: September 11-14, 2023 (4-5:30pm), November 6-9, 2023 (4-5:30pm), January 8-11, 2024 (4-5:30pm), and March 11-14, 2024 (4-5:30pm).


Also included are three virtual Community of Practice gatherings, in collaboration with the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA). These are optional and scheduled from 4-5:30pm where you will connect with fellow educators across California:

You will be paid a $50 stipend for each of these meetings for active participation. Go to the CSTA website for more information.

(Q): What is the commitment for the 2023/2024 school year? 

(A): In addition to the academic year workshops listed above, the hope is that teachers and paraprofessionals who participate in Summer of CS workshops will deliver 30/50/75 hours of CS instruction, depending on grade level, to students during the 2023-2024 school year. 

This delivery could include integrated lessons, standalone units of instruction, after-school clubs and activities, and/or other creative approaches.  The workshop you choose to participate in this summer will provide you with ample content and strategies for instruction. The optional quarterly Community of Practice gatherings during 2023-2024 (listed above) will provide you with opportunities to collaborate with other K-12 teachers across the state on the topic of implementation. The grant that funds the Summer of CS asks for participating teachers to acknowledge an intent to deliver the instruction.  You will receive the resources and support to help you try to do 30/50/75 hours in the first school year. 

(Q): Who is eligible to participate and receive a stipend (participation incentive) for the Summer of CS workshops?

(A): Due to the stipulations of the CA Department of Education with the Educator Workforce Investment Grant (EWIG), participation incentives can only be made available to educators and paraprofessionals who are currently working in a classroom during regular instructional time and are directly related to the classroom instruction of pupils. Teachers who are the teacher-in-charge consistently during the school day and paraprofessionals during the school day will be paid a participation incentive through the 2021 EWIG: CS grant. If a Librarian is teaching a Computer Technology course, CS course, or a teacher-in-charge of another course during the school day, they are eligible to be funded from 2021 EWIG: CS funds. Expanded learning educators that are the teacher-in-charge during the school day or a paraprofessional during the school day can be funded through 2021 EWIG: CS funds.

Therefore, pre-service teachers and substitute teachers are not eligible to be funded via 2021 EWIG: CS funds. 

(Q): Is registration open for California private school educators?

(A): Yes. Please enter your school name rather than a district name during the registration process. Registrations will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Registrations are confirmed upon receipt of a signed participation agreement from each registrant and their respective supervisor.

(Q): Is registration open for individuals or teams?

(A): You can register as an individual or as a team. To help build local capacity and support, we encourage school-based teams of teachers, paraprofessionals, counselors, and administrators to register. 

(Q): Can I register for more than one Summer of CS workshop?

(A): No. Due to capacity constraints, you may register for only one workshop. Both in-person and virtual Summer of CS workshops are available for all grades K-12. Most workshops are 3-day or 5-day workshops. Academic year support is also included at no cost. Classroom educators and paraprofessionals will receive a $175 per day (6 hours) incentive for active participation. 

If you accidentally registered for more than one workshop, please email us at SeasonsOfCS@cdefoundation.org to let us know which workshop you prefer to participate in. Your registration will be updated based on your preference. 

What is the cost for the Summer of CS workshops?

(A): All workshops are free to California classroom educators, paraprofessionals, counselors, and administrators. No prior computer science experience is necessary. 

(Q): Are there travel funds available for participating in the Summer of CS workshops happening in June 2023 and July 2023?

(A): California classroom educators and paraprofessionals will receive $175 per day (6 hours) incentive for active participation in the Summer of CS offerings. There are no additional funds for travel. You may use your daily $175 incentive as you wish.

(Q): Can non-California educators participate in the Summer of CS workshop offerings?

(A): Non-California educators are not allowed to participate at this time due to the terms of the Educator Workforce Investment Grant (EWIG) in Computer Science which is intended to support California educators.

(Q): Are there continuing Education Units (CEUs) offered for participation in this summer's workshops? 

(A): Continuing Education Units are not available for participating in the Summer of CS workshops.

(Q): I am an administrator. Is there a workshop available for my specific role?

(A): Yes! Register for the CS Equity Workshop for School Leaders and come learn about hands-on tools and strategies to implement equity-minded K12 CS education in our schools, districts, and county offices of education. The workshop and accompanying CS Equity Implementation Guide, written by administrators for administrators, are resources aimed at transforming CS education implementation in CA and increasing opportunities for all students, including low-income students, students of color, young women, English learners, and students with special needs. Participants will discuss the current context of CS in CA, including an overview of research, recent policy developments, and how to analyze data in their region/school using the CS Equity Dashboard. Facilitators will then share lessons learned from districts/county offices and will discuss how to address challenges to implementing scalable, sustainable, and equity-minded professional development. 

(Q): I see that some workshops are listed as "In-Person with Virtual Provider." What does that mean?

(A): Both in-person and virtual Summer of CS workshops are available for all grades K-12. Some workshops are listed as "In-Person with Virtual Provider" since they are offered in-person at a physical location such as a county office of education, but the facilitator presenting the provider's curriculum will be streamed from another location.  For example, the facilitator of the Bootstrap: Algebra workshop will be presenting in-person from June 26-30th at the Santa Clara Office of Education with attendees, but, at the same time this workshop will be streamed to the Sacramento County Office of Education for those attendees in-person at that Sacramento site. The Sacramento workshop would be considered "In-Person with Virtual Provider" in this case. If you register for a workshop that is listed as "Virtual" then there is no physical location and the workshop will be entirely delivered online by the facilitator who is the content expert of the provider's curriculum. Room Hosts, for both in-person and virtual workshops, will be available to support the workshop facilitators.

(Q): What type of support can I expect as I implement computer science in my classroom?

(A): The Seasons of CS Team is here to support you throughout the year as you embark on your computer science learning pathway! Since this is a yearlong professional development opportunity, you not only get free access to any Summer of CS workshop you choose, you also are guaranteed additional academic year workshops of just-in-time support where you will meet virtually after school with your workshop provider to reinforce, reflect, and extend your learning during the following weeks: 

For Grades 6-12: September 11-14, 2023 (4-5:30pm), November 6-9, 2023 (4-5:30pm), January 8-11, 2024 (4-5:30pm), and March 11-14, 2024 (4-5:30pm). These workshop meetings will be daily during the weeks listed. Workshop time will be a mix of synchronous and asynchronous time. Synchronous time will be specified by your workshop provider. There will be a total of 24 hours of academic-year support. You will be paid a $175 incentive for every 6 hours of ongoing professional learning.

For Grades K-5: September 11-14, 2023 (4-5:30pm) and March 11-14, 2024 (4-5:30pm). These workshop meetings will be daily during the weeks listed. Workshop time will be a mix of synchronous and asynchronous time. Synchronous time will be specified by your workshop provider. There will be a total of 12 hours of academic-year support. You will be paid a $175 incentive for every 6 hours of ongoing professional learning.


Also included are three virtual Community of Practice gatherings, in collaboration with the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA). These are scheduled from 4-5:30pm where you will connect with fellow educators across California:

You will be paid a $50 stipend for each meeting for active participation.

(Q) Besides the Summer of CS workshops, what other opportunities will I have for networking?

(A) You will be encouraged to also participate in virtual Communities of Practice. Also included are three virtual Community of Practice gatherings, in collaboration with the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA). These are scheduled from 4-5:30pm where you will connect with fellow educators across California:

(Q): What does EWIG stand for?

(A): The Educator Workforce Investment Grant (EWIG) in Computer Science provides funding for the Summer of CS programming and was awarded by the California Department of Education to UCLA and its CSforCA coalition, along with the CDE Foundation and Sacramento County Office of Education. The goal is to implement the Seasons of CS professional learning program across California's Statewide System of Support.

(Q): I have several questions about this Summer of CS learning opportunity. How can I learn more details?

(A) Check out this overview slide deck, view the March 1st Office Hours zoom recording, or contact us at seasonsofcs@cdefoundation.org.

(Q): What are EWIG's 7 Regions of Support in California?

(A): The 7 regional lead agencies (RLAs) are: