Computer Science Math Pathways

My state and district are looking into developing math pathways since it has become more than clear that the traditional math pathway (Algebra 1 → Geometry → Algebra 2 → Pre-calculus → Calculus) serves very few students. I have inserted myself into the conversation because math leaders suggest that computer science has a home in some of these pathways, without truly knowing anything about the CS courses offered. This leads me to wonder about the place of computer science in education.

I should acknowledge that I live in a state that believes in site-based education. There is no alignment from school to school in the same district or district to district. In my district, most schools consider AP Computer Science Principles and AP Computer Science A to be technology courses, and they are used as elective requirements. The next closest high school (in the same district) has them all in the math department. They are still electives, but they are considered math credits. This makes the pathways work more like a "recommendation" than a requirement, making the process much harder.

I think CS can be taught as a math class. I might try to adjust my emphasis a lot. Still, I consider Computational Thinking a major part of math, similar to Quantitative Reasoning, one of the pathways they are considering. The challenge for my district is that most of the CS teachers are not licensed in math, which could be a problem. In many other districts, they have converted math teachers to CS teachers, so they will not have the same problem.

I am very excited about this, although I am a little nervous that it is happening without any CS teacher input. Today, I found places where someone like me needs to help them understand what they are talking about. It is going to be an interesting process.

I think this is the first meeting of many, and I am excited to be part of the conversation. There's so much change happening right now in the various parts of my professional life. Everything is shifting. It will be interesting to see where it ends up.