Exploring Computer Science
Exploring Computer Science (ECS) is a K-12/university partnership between the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). ECS was developed by the Computer Science Equity Alliance in response to a UCLA study that examined why so few females and students of color study computer science in high school.
ECS expanded access to Advanced Placement Computer Science courses, with programs in eighteen LAUSD high schools at the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year. Students in the ECS program engage in a curriculum that explores various aspects of computing, including human computer interaction, problem solving, Web design, programming, data modeling, and robotics.
A key component of ECS is teacher training and support. Because computer science (CS) teacher certification does not exist, many CS teachers are teaching out of subject without a professional learning community. To address this, ECS places critical emphasis on its ECS Professional Development and Coaching programs.