K-12 Standards Section

Arizona Computer Science Standards Development

DRAFT Arizona Computer Science Standards

Calling all computer science educators (K-12 and higher education), industry partners, and parents!

The process to develop new Computer Science Standards is scheduled to begin late January. We hope you will consider applying for the opportunity to participate in this important work. The Arizona Department of Education is looking for K-12 educators, higher education/post-secondary educators, and industry partners from across the state to serve on the computer science standards working groups. The standards review process will use an accordion model for committee selection; an individual might be selected to serve once or multiple times, depending on the focus of the work and their expertise. Working group members who are unable to serve for a particular meeting due to schedule conflicts or other concerns are still eligible to be selected to participate in future meetings.

Standards vs. Curriculum (click to view explanation)

Standards outline what a student needs to know, understand, and be able to do by the end of each grade. Standards build across grade levels in a progression of increasing understanding and through a range of cognitive demand levels. Standards are adopted at the state level by the State Board of Education (A.R.S. §§15-701 and 15-701.01). Arizona retains authority to approve and modify academic standards; there is no federal law requiring the adoption of specific standards.

Curriculum includes all the resources used for teaching and learning the standards (textbooks, reading material, lesson plans). Curriculum is adopted at a local level by districts and schools. Neither the State Board nor the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) has the authority to adopt or mandate school curriculum. Under A.R.S. §§15-721 and 15-722, local governing boards (both district and charter) have the sole authority to adopt curriculum via public meetings, allowing for community input regarding what instructional materials are used in classrooms.

Review the current Arizona Science Standard (approved 2004) here.

Review the Arizona Social Studies Standard (approved 2005) here.

Public comment for the current DRAFT Arizona Computer Science Standards closes August 10, 2018.

Computer Science Survey Responses and Comments

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