National Math and Science Initiative - Lone Star AP CSP EIR Early-Phase Grant - Response to Priorities

Sep 20, 2026

Uploaded by Levi

The document outlines a five-year Early-Phase grant proposal for Lone Star AP CSP under Absolute Priorities 1 and 3, with an emphasis on STEM-CS and the Computer Science Competitive Preference Priority. It describes expanding the National Math and Science Initiative’s College Readiness Program from a one-year to a three-year teacher support model, partnering with NCWIT’s Counselors for Computing, and using evidence-based CS curriculum and professional development providers. The plan targets improved access and higher qualifying scores on the AP Computer Science Principles exam across 50 Texas schools by 2023, focusing on girls and underrepresented minorities while addressing teacher shortages and ongoing evaluation and management requirements.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages30

Reading Time1 h 16 min

AccessFree to download

RESPONSE TO PRIORITIES

(a) Significance

(b) Quality of the Project Design

(d) Quality of the Project Evaluation

INTRODUCTION

RESPONSE TO PRIORITIES

Table of Contents RESPONSE TO PRIORITIES–AP \#1 AND AP\#3; AND CPP 1 (a) Significance 2 (1) The contribution of the proposed project to the increased knowledge or understanding of the educational problems, issues, or effective strategies 4 (2) The proposed project involves the development or demonstration of promising new strategies that build on, or are alternatives to, existing strategies 6 (b) Quality of the Project Design 7 (1) Goals, objectives, and outcomes are clearly specified and measurable 7 (2) Conceptual framework underlies project and is high quality 8 (3) Extent to which performance feedback and continuous improvement are integral to the design of the proposed project 11 (c) Adequacy of Resources and Quality of the Management Plan 12 (1) Management plan will achieve the stated objectives on time and within budget with clearly defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones 13 (2) Qualifications of key personnel 14 (3) Continued support after the grant period 17 (d) Quality of the Project Evaluation 17 Lone Star AP CSP • EIR Early Phase Grant • April 2019 RESPONSE TO PRIORITIES Over the 5-year span of this Early Phase project that addresses Absolute Priorities 1 (Demonstrates Rationale) and 3 (Field-Initiated Innovation Focusing on STEM-CS) plus the Computer Science Competitive Preference Priority, Lone Star Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science Principles (CSP) will expand the teacher supports in NMSI’s proven College Readiness Program (CRP) from a one academic year model to a comprehensive three academic year model, complemented by CRP’s standard school and student supports. Additionally, Lone Star AP CSP is partnering with NCWIT’s Counselors for Computing program to provide greater support to school counselors as they identify/recruit students for AP CSP courses. All of Lone Star AP CSP’s components are designed to specifically increase access and qualifying scores on the AP Computer Science Principles (AP CSP) exam in 50 schools across Texas by 2023. Lone Star AP CSP includes the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI), 50 Texas-based schools, four evidence-based CS curriculum and professional development providers (The Beauty and Joy of Computing, Mobile CSP, UTeach, and NCWIT), and external evaluator American Institutes for Research (AIR). Lone Star AP CSP represents a significant step forward in supporting AP CSP for all students, with specific goals to increase access and academic outcomes for girls and underrepresented minorities in Computer Science. INTRODUCTION For nearly 30 years, Texas teachers and students have benefitted from training, support and resources provided by the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI), formerly known as AP Strategies. Beginning with only nine high schools in 1991, NMSI has since partnered with 185 Lone Star AP CSP • EIR Early-Phase Grant • April 2019 1 schools in more than 51 school districts in Texas with support from local, federal and philanthropic organizations. In 2014, the Texas State Board of Education mandated that Computer Science (CS) be offered to every student in the state’s public high schools; yet, less than 3% of Texas high school graduates have taken a computer science course due to a critical shortage of CS teachers across Texas. 1 Lone Star AP CSP has been designed to address this teacher shortage, thus creating opportunity for increased access and achievement in CS across Texas. NMSI works with districts across Texas on AP content ranging from AP English to AP Calculus and beyond. In 2017-18, NMSI worked with 31 Texas districts, but only 19 of them offered AP CSP. Supporting those 19 districts, NMSI trained 21 AP CSP teachers, resulting in a 330% Year 1 year-over-year enrollment increase, and a 327% increase in year-over-year qualifying scores. While this work is not commensurate with the vast needs across the state of Texas, NMSI’s impact on AP access and qualifying scores in general (s

FAQs

What are the core aims of the Lone Star AP CSP Early-Phase grant proposal?

The proposal aims to expand teacher supports and increase student access and qualifying outcomes on the AP Computer Science Principles exam across Texas, with specific focus on girls and underrepresented minorities.

How does the project address the shortage of computer science teachers in Texas?

It expands NMSI’s College Readiness Program support model from one academic year to a comprehensive three academic year approach, using professional development providers and partnership strategies to strengthen recruitment, training, and ongoing support.

What components and partners are included in the Lone Star AP CSP plan?

The plan includes NMSI, 50 Texas-based schools, multiple evidence-based CS curriculum and professional development providers, an external evaluator (American Institutes for Research), and a partnership with NCWIT’s Counselors for Computing to support school counselors.

Sep 20, 2026

Uploaded by Levi