Amazon and Ector County Independent School District announced Tuesday that Amazon is funding computer science education and teacher professional development for 28 elementary schools in the district, impacting more than 14,000 students from underserved communities and groups currently underrepresented in tech, as part of its Amazon Future Engineer program.
ECISD is now part of Amazon Future Engineer’s target to bring computer science to 500,000 elementary students by 2025, a news release said.
Amazon’s commitment to ECISD is part of the company’s ongoing efforts to increase access to computer science/STEM education across the country, primarily through Amazon Future Engineer. In addition, Amazon has donated more than $20 million to organizations that promote computer science/STEM education. Already in Texas, there are more than 550 schools participating in the Amazon Future Engineer program.
Amazon is working with BootUp PD, a nonprofit professional development provider, specializing in elementary school education, to bring computer science to each school. BootUp PD’s typically in-person PD sessions adapt well to a virtual model and provide teachers with the tools they need to bring engaging coding lessons to their students both on-screen and in-person. High-quality computer science education for elementary school students during their school day is a critical piece of Amazon’s “childhood to career” approach because it helps bridge equity skill gaps at an age when students are just beginning to formulate ideas about their futures, the release said.
“Ector County ISD is grateful to the Amazon Future Engineer program and BootUp, who will provide support for our teachers to implement computer science education into their classrooms and lessons,” stated Superintendent Dr. Scott Muri. “Our district strives to prepare Ector County’s future workforce to compete in a modern economy, and computer science knowledge is critical to that end. We are excited to see how this will inspire our students.”
Rep. Brooks Landgraf, R-Odessa, said he is incredibly thankful for the partnership between Amazon and ECISD, which will help close the digital divide in our public schools.
“Coding is the language of the 21st century, and we must make sure our students don’t fall behind in a rapidly evolving world. Amazon’s Future Engineer program represents a bold investment towards the computer science education of our students, which will ensure they are fully equipped to be tomorrow’s innovators and leaders in the STEM field,” Landgraf said in the release.
