Latin School of Chicago

CONTENT AT LATIN 1 2 L AT I N S C H O O L O F C H I C AG O L AT I N S C H O O L O F C H I C AG O COMPUTER SCIENCE GRANT The main goal of the Computer Science Grant was to create a best-of-its-kind computer science department at Latin to increase opportunities for all students, including underrepresented groups such as girls and students of color that have traditionally had limited access and exposure to the field. With this in mind, we used the grant to hire experienced teachers, provide faculty and staff with professional development, purchase resources and materials and create an accessible and engaging curriculum. Computer science is a field that has historically been dominated by a small subset of people. Many K-12 programs noticed that this often resulted in lower engagement and participation by certain student populations, including girls and students of color. Thanks to the Computer Science Grant, we have made significant progress toward addressing this issue. When our work with the grant began in 2014, we offered a single computer science class in the Upper School that had nine students, including one female. Since then, we have developed a robust, interdisciplinary computer science program that reaches every student at Latin. In the Lower School, we went from offering "computer" classes to providing stand-alone instructional time for computer science and creating connections between it and other subjects. In the Middle School, our program, which also features stand-alone instruction and interdisciplinary connections, has grown to include all grade levels. And, in the Upper School, we have instituted an entire course sequence and computer science graduation requirement. The grant has also led to the establishment of co-curricular clubs, after-school programs and summer course offerings. In addition to fostering programmatic changes, the grant has enabled us to procure critical resources and materials that have helped expose students to computer science in a variety of ways. For example, we have been able to purchase interactive coding blocks and toys for the Lower School; coding robots for the Lower and Middle IMPACT of GIVING How two 10-year grants have shaped Latin The generous support of the Latin community has always played an important role in ensuring that every student we serve has access to an exemplary education. This vital and valuable support is reflected in a pair of 10-year grants — Computer Science and Teacher Excellence — that have spurred the creation of our school's state-of- the-art computer science program, strengthened the quality of the academic experience we offer and contributed to the success of our students both in and out of the classroom. IMPACT OF GIVING 1 2 L AT I N S C H O O L O F C H I C AG O

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