CSTANJ CSPDWeek 2026

Kick off CSPDWeek 2026 with a morning of connection and inspiration. Join us for check-in and a light breakfast, followed by opening remarks from CSTANJ and NJDOE Office of Innovation leadership. The session will conclude with our featured keynote address to set the stage for a week of innovation in computer science education.

During COVID-19 some students logged on. Others disappeared. The digital divide did not create that gap. It revealed it. Artificial intelligence is doing the same thing right now.

This session uses the Art as the Classroom framework to examine how the absence of AI curriculum functions as a systemic failure and offers educators practical strategies for building AI literacy before the gap becomes a canyon. Participants will leave with concrete tools they can implement immediately without waiting for district permission.

The absence of artificial intelligence literacy in K-12 curriculum is quietly replicating the conditions that produced the COVID-19 digital divide. During the pandemic, students without access to devices and reliable internet disappeared from their own education while their peers advanced. Research now confirms that the same pattern is emerging around AI literacy. According to The 74 Million, 68% of teachers received no formal AI training during the 2024 to 2025 school year. Only 14.13% of U.S. school districts had established formal AI policies as of May 2024 (Zhou et al., 2025). A RAND Corporation study found that teachers and principals in higher-poverty schools are significantly less likely to use AI tools or receive guidance, and only 6 in 10 high-poverty districts will have trained teachers by fall 2025 compared to nearly all low-poverty districts. This is not only an economic divide. It is a curricular and institutional one that affects students across income levels whose schools have not yet integrated AI literacy into classroom practice.

This session applies two original frameworks developed by the presenter to examine and respond to this growing gap. Glass House Conditioning, a positional model of conditional belonging, provides a theoretical lens for understanding how institutions condition students from marginalized communities to accept exclusion from emerging technologies as normal rather than as a systemic failure requiring intervention. Art as the Classroom, a pedagogical framework examining culture and creativity as vehicles for learning when formal institutions fall short, offers a practical bridge for educators seeking to introduce AI literacy through the cultural touchpoints students already inhabit including music production, content creation, social media, and gaming.

Participants will examine current national data on AI literacy gaps across K-12 education, explore the intersection of Glass House Conditioning and digital equity, and apply the Art as the Classroom framework through structured discussion, individual reflection, and a collaborative scenario-based group activity. The session closes with a commitment exercise designed to help educators identify one concrete AI literacy strategy they will implement before the next school year begins.

This workshop provides actionable plans and encourages CS teachers to embrace counselor collaborations for a diverse, thriving CS Program. Explore the transformative role of school counselors in shaping CS education. Dive into collaborative strategies, understand counselors’ impact, and share unique educator challenges.

As the workforce landscape becomes more digital, Computer Science skills are a requirement of modern education. Yet achieving a representative and continually growing student body in CS programs remains a challenge for many educators. This workshop addresses a pivotal element that can change the trajectory of CS education: the critical role of school counselors in students' decision making process.

School Counselors serve as a guiding force for students’ academic and post-secondary choices. Counselors have the platform to bridge the gap between students’ ambitions and the pathways that can lead them to fulfilling tech-driven futures. Counselors are the ideal allies to expanding CS education. This workshop aims to spotlight the importance of a CS teacher and school counselor relationship providing best practices and discussions on how to strengthen this partnership.

Key Takeaways
Delve into practical strategies and best practices to create meaningful collaboration between CS educators and school counselors, ensuring a meaningful approach to increasing student engagement.
Deepen educators' understanding of how school counselors can directly and indirectly influence students’ gravitation towards CS, and why their involvement is crucial for a well-rounded CS program.

Participants will engage in discussions providing a platform where educators can share their unique challenges and success stories. These dialogues offer best practices, anecdotes, and insights from lived experiences.

Participants will be encouraged to move from identifying challenges to crafting solutions tailored for individual school environments. Attendees will analyze barriers, spotlight opportunities, and formulate diverse plans to solidify the CS-counselor partnership.

💻CSPDWeek NJ 2026: Virtual Wrap-Up & Celebration! 🎊

Don’t sign off just yet! Stick around immediately following Carter Moulton’s Keynote for our official virtual grand finale. We’re closing out our sixth annual NJ CSPDWeek by celebrating the incredible "AI-ready" foundations you’ve built all week long.

What to Expect:
The Victory Lap: A high-energy recap of our best moments and breakthroughs from across the Garden State.
Next Steps: Quick, clear instructions on how to access your 2026-27 PD resources and stay connected with your new CS network.
Stipend Essentials: You will receive a post-conference survey via email. Please note that this survey must be completed to qualify for your $900 stipend!
The Launch: We’ll send you off inspired and ready to bring inclusive, cutting-edge CS to your students this fall.

Let’s end the week on a high note together—see you in the main virtual room!