North Carolina Superintendent Mark Johnson announced Monday that 16 districts have been awarded grants totaling $800,000 under the second round of the Coding and Mobile App Development Grant Program that was launched last year with funding from the General Assembly.
The grants, which range from $80,000 to $28,000, support partnerships with local businesses to help schools develop computer science, coding and mobile app development programs for middle and high school students.
“This innovative program is providing North Carolina students the opportunity to learn computer science, coding and mobile app development to help them gain key skills in high demand in the 21st century economy,” Johnson said. “The focus is on empowering students to create and contribute – not just use and consume – in the digital economy and to actively engage as informed citizens in our complex, technology-driven world.”
Receiving grant awards are:
- Dare County Schools: $28,000
- Guilford County Schools: $67,000
- Cumberland County Schools: $80,000
- Newton-Conover Schools: $75,000
- Onslow County Schools: $46,000
- Craven County Schools: $60,000
- Asheville-Buncombe-Madison Consortium: $80,000
- Beaufort County Schools: $76,000
- Carteret County Schools: $28,000
- Henderson County Schools: $40,000
- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: $80,000
- Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: $80,000
- Hyde County Schools: $30,000
- Rowan-Salisbury Schools: $30,000
Districts and schools will implement their programs beginning this fall. Applications for the next Coding and Mobile App Development grant cycle will be available online in spring of 2019.
In the first round of coding and mobile app grants awarded during the 2017-18 school year, districts used the funds to provide professional development for teachers, develop and implement middle and high school courses in computer science and programming and offer computer-oriented summer camp opportunities.
About the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction:
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction provides leadership to 115 local public school districts and 160 charter schools serving over 1.5 million students in kindergarten through high school graduation. The agency is responsible for all aspects of the state's public school system and works under the direction of the North Carolina State Board of Education.