The Iowa Department of Education today announced that $850,000 in competitive grant funding is available to Iowa school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to align computer science programs, including career and technical education programs in information technology and business management and administration, with the attainment of industry-recognized credentials. The Department’s new Credentials to Computer Science Careers grant will support high schoolers earning in-demand technology credentials with labor market value.
“Computer science impacts every industry in our ever-changing world, and computer and information technology careers are expected to grow at a faster rate with median annual income more than double that of all other occupations,” said Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow. “This first-of-its-kind grant program will empower high schoolers with opportunities to attain computer science industry-recognized credentials. We are excited to partner with Iowa’s innovative educators to equip students with the knowledge and skills to excel in the workforce of today and tomorrow.”
Industry-recognized credentials are certifications, credentials or licenses that are vetted by employers and endorsed by a nationally recognized trade association or organization in a particular industry. By aligning computer science and career and technical education (CTE) programs with stackable computer science and information technology (IT) credentials, students can build critical skills to pursue in-demand careers and accelerate further advanced credential or degree attainment. These stackable credentials are portable, can be accumulated over time, build upon previous skills and can help close the skills gap between what employers need and the competencies students possess.
District and nonpublic school applicants should demonstrate clear, sustainable plans to align one or more existing computer science or CTE pathways with student attainment of an industry-recognized credential aligned to industry needs and labor market demand. Any computer science or IT-related credential will qualify, provided it is a new opportunity not previously made available to their students.
Allowable costs can include student exam fees, instructional equipment, non-consumable instructional supplies, computer equipment and software, wired and wireless internet connections, installation costs, instructor training related to new equipment purchases, instructor training expenses required to offer the credential and curriculum enhancements and associated travel costs.
Applications for the Credentials to Computer Science Careers grant are being accepted now in IowaGrants.gov. The application deadline is Sept. 30, at 11:59 p.m.
This competitive grant opportunity is part of a comprehensive statewide initiative to expand opportunities for students to attain an industry-recognized credential while in high school. Recent legislation directs the Department to develop and distribute a seal to school districts to include on high school transcripts to recognize high school graduates who attain an industry-recognized credential while in high school. Additionally, the Department previously awarded 48 school districts a combined 55 awards through the Credentials to Careers and Credentials to Child Care Careers grant programs focused on aligning high-quality high school CTE programs with the attainment of an industry-recognized credential.
More information on the Credentials to Computer Science Careers is available on the Department’s Industry-Recognized Credentials webpage. Information about computer science instruction can be found on the Department’s Computer Science Instruction webpage.
Funds for the Credentials to Computer Science grant are provided through a portion of a 2007 court-approved settlement of a class-action antitrust lawsuit filed against Microsoft Corp designated to expanding computer science education in Iowa.