Experiences in Launching CS4Philly: Progress for Equity in and Access to CS Education for Philadelphia Children and Youth

CS4Philly is dedicated to ensuring that all of Philadelphias children and youth have access to high-quality computer science (CS) education and are prepared for post-secondary success in the digital economy. Established in 2017, the mission of CS4Philly is to establish a sustained public-private partnership that raises awareness about the importance of computer science education, builds capacity within K12 systems and promotes equity and access to high-quality CS education, tech-skill building and training opportunities. CS4Philly is comprised of a group of local and regional STEM stakeholders, including universities, K-12 teachers and administrators, non-profits, and government offices. In this extended abstract, we report on progress in advancing the mission of CS4Philly.