RALEIGH — The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction announced the distribution of $800,000 in grants to 18 school districts across the state to enhance student skills in computer science through coding and mobile app development programs.
“The workforce in North Carolina is changing rapidly, and we must respond with initiatives like this to ensure that students know about these high-wage, in-demand roles and are equipped to take advantage of them,” State Superintendent Catherine Truitt said in a press release.
Launched in 2017 with North Carolina General Assembly funding, the Coding and Mobile App Development Grant program supports partnerships between schools and local businesses. The grants, ranging from $13,000 to $80,000, will be used to acquire equipment, purchase digital materials and cover costs for teacher professional development.
According to the Department of Public Instruction, this year’s round of grants centered on implementing North Carolina’s new K-12 Computer Science Standards, which were adopted in 2023. The grants will help districts prepare for the new graduation requirement in the 2024-25 school year, mandating all ninth graders to complete a computer science course before graduation.
Some districts will use the funds to expand existing programs, while others are implementing new initiatives this spring. During the 2023-24 school year, the grant program provided more than 10,000 students, teachers, administrators and staff members with opportunities to experience coding, mobile app development and computer science courses.
Grant recipients will collaborate with various industry partners, including VEX Robotics, TechSmart, STEM West, The Dot Consulting, Carolina Ballers, NASCAR and Code.org.
List of awards by county, alphabetically:
Alexander County: $55,125
Asheville City Schools: $13,820
Bladen County: $13,819
Cabarrus County: $80,000
Caldwell County: $80,000
Camden County: $13,820
Catawba County: $80,000
Edgecombe County: $13,819
Hyde County: $13,819
Lincoln County: $13,819
Macon County: $80,000
McDowell County: $75,000
Northeastern Academy for Aerospace and Advanced Technologies: $65,500
Northampton County: $13,820
Scotland County: $13,819
Wayne County: $80,000
Yadkin County: $13,820
Yancey County: $80,000
