Official Site of The State of New Jersey

Daryl Detrick
2022-2023 Warren County Teacher of the Year
Warren Hills Regional High School
Warren Hills Regional School District

When I began my teaching career 30 years ago, the idea of elementary school students designing apps or programming robots was the stuff of science fiction. We were still taking attendance on index cards! Yet, today, in this rapidly changing world of technology, computational thinking skills are as essential as reading and writing. Computer science education opens doors of opportunity for our students by making sure they are innovative creators of technology, not just passive users.  

We celebrate Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek) from December 9–13. CSEdWeek is a global event that aims to inspire the next generation of innovators and promote equity in CS Education. This is an opportunity for schools across New Jersey to host a variety of activities to showcase the exciting and diverse world of computer science. This year’s theme is CS Heroes. Consider organizing an Hour of Code event at your school, hosting a CS Heroes assembly, or displaying CS Hero posters that can be found at CSEdWeek.org. You can be a CS Hero to your students.  

Over the last decade, a dedicated group of educators from the Computer Science Teachers Association of New Jersey (CSTA New Jersey) has worked closely with legislators, the Governor's Office, the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE), universities and other nonprofits to drive computer science education forward in our state. The strides that have been made during that time are incredible. They include: 

• K–12 Computer Science Education Standards 
• Computer Science Teacher Certification 
• $8.8 Million in NJDOE Computer Science Grants since 2018 
• New Jersey Computer Science Teaching Hubs at The College of New Jersey, Stockton University and Montclair State University 
• CSTANJ is one of the largest chapters in the country with more than 350 members 
• Seventh Annual New Jersey Computer Science Summit at Rutgers — December 13, 2024 

There's still work to be done. While 86% of New Jersey high schools offer computer science courses, only 8.8% of high school students actually take them. Similarly, the participation rate is low in middle and elementary schools, even though 40% and 29% of them (respectively) offer computer science. (Source: State of Computer Science Education Report) This highlights a significant gap between availability and student engagement. We need to make sure all students have access to quality and equitable Computer Science Education. 

By empowering our students with computer science skills, we are preparing them for the future. They will be equipped to solve complex problems, innovate and create the technologies that will shape our world. Let's make this CSEdWeek a memorable one. Encourage your students to explore the limitless possibilities of computer science and inspire them to become the next generation of tech leaders. 

The Office of Innovation has a new Artificial Intelligence (AI)-focused webpage that features an overview of fundamental AI principles, detailed conversation starters for school administrators and teachers, and a pre-recorded webinar on using AI within the field of education. We plan to continue to create and disseminate supports, resources and professional development to the field with timely updates, as AI is continually evolving.  

Preparing the future workforce was what Governor Murphy had in mind when he launched the AI Moonshot initiative. This initiative aims to position New Jersey as a leader in AI for education. The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) believes that AI advancements will create new classroom opportunities, necessitating preparations across schools.  

Grant Opportunities

In the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 State budget, Governor Murphy appropriated $1.5 million towards helping schools explore AI through two new grant opportunities. The NJDOE has developed a $750,000 competitive grant program to provide New Jersey public school districts with the opportunity to develop and implement innovative initiatives to integrate generative AI into teaching, learning, and operations. This grant program will empower ten districts who will develop and model comprehensive approaches to AI-integrated teaching, learning and operations.  

The NJDOE has also developed a competitive grant program to expand career pathways in AI. This initiative aims to increase AI literacy in New Jersey school districts by educating students on creating and developing AI programs. Up to two New Jersey County Vocational School Districts (CVSDs) will be awarded up to $375,000 to partner with an Institution of Higher Education (IHE) and industry specialists to develop a three-course career and technical education (CTE) program of study focused on AI and robotics. 

The overarching goals of this program are to: 

• Expand opportunity and access to high-quality AI and robotics CTE curriculum 
• Encourage integrating AI literacy into CTE programs 
• Promote continuous knowledge and skills in teaching and learning AI through Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) with school districts, IHEs, and industry experts.  

Teach AI Initiative

The Office of Innovation is actively following the state of artificial intelligence technology development and identifying potential best practices and key considerations for the use of AI in education through our work as a participating member of the Code.org TeachAI initiative. The initiative was established to develop guidance for teaching with, and about, artificial intelligence. The advisory committee includes state, local, and nonprofit education leaders, education associations, international governments, research institutions, and technology leaders. More than 60 education and government agencies participate in TeachAI by attending virtual and in-person events, engaging in workgroups, reviewing resources, and informing TeachAI’s recommendations.  

Digital and Information Literacy — Information Literacy Standards

The Office of Innovation is also working in collaboration with the Office of Standards to infuse AI into the new Information Literacy Standards. Implementation of these standards will allow teachers to progress towards more advanced levels of technology integration in the classroom by conducting professional development opportunities and collaboration with local schools and experts.