Computer Science Supplementary Authorization (CSSA) program support (Google Grant)

Computer Science Supplementary Authorization (CSSA) program support (Google Grant) is sponsored by Google. This grant supports Cal State LA's program to prepare K–12 educators to teach computer science in underserved communities.

Cal State LA secures Google grant to expand K-12 computer science education for local teachers Photo: A CSSA-trained educator leads a virtual reality workshop for elementary students during a summer camp at Cal State LA.

(Courtesy: Elaine Kang/Cal State LA) Cal State LA secures Google grant to expand K-12 computer science education for local teachers Photo: A CSSA-trained educator leads a virtual reality workshop for elementary students during a summer camp at Cal State LA.

(Courtesy: Elaine Kang/Cal State LA) Cal State LA has received a $150,000 grant from Google to support its Computer Science Supplementary Authorization (CSSA) program, advancing the university’s efforts to prepare K–12 educators to teach computer science in underserved communities.

The “ Empowering Future CS Educators ” grant will fund expanded mentorship, professional development, and hands-on instructional opportunities for both in-service and pre-service teachers across Los Angeles. The funding enables teachers to access continuous training throughout the academic year, participate in summer programs, and engage in community outreach through computer science learning initiatives.

The grant-supported initiative is led by Principal Investigator Elaine Kang, chair of Cal State LA’s Department of Computer Science, along with Co-Principal Investigators and Professors David Krum and Manveen Kaur. Marcela Rodriguez, California lead for Google. org Education Engagement, serves as the university’s liaison for the collaboration.

As part of the grant, Cal State LA organized a “P3: Python Programming Pals” summer camp in July, where four Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) teachers teamed up with computer science faculty and graduate students to lead workshops on programming, robotics, and virtual reality for local youth.

The participating teachers—trained through the CSSA program—were Andrew Johnson, Asher Nevell, Veronica Herrera, and Zonia Hill-Richardson. This hands-on experience not only gave students early exposure to computing but also allowed the teachers to apply and deepen their instructional skills in a real-world setting.

“The training gave me the confidence and skills to bring real computer science experiences into the classroom,” said Johnson, a high school teacher in LAUSD and summer camp instructor. “Leading the summer camp with Cal State LA faculty and students was an incredible opportunity to put what I’ve learned into practice and see the excitement it sparked in our students.

” Herrera, an elementary school teacher in LAUSD and another summer camp instructor, said: “Through the P3 summer camp, I learned from my students that perseverance and collaboration are essential to success in computer science—two qualities that emerged as recurring themes throughout our CS coursework.

” In addition to the grant, Google sponsored Winter of CS: STEAM Symposium Scholarships, which supported 15 teachers—eight in-service and seven pre-service—by covering stipends, registration fees, hotel accommodations, and travel expenses. These scholarships enabled educators to participate in high-impact professional development without financial barriers.

The CSSA program , launched in early 2024 in collaboration with LAUSD, was developed in response to California’s growing demand for credentialed computer science teachers. Under the state’s credentialing guidelines, K–12 educators can earn a Computer Science Supplementary Authorization to teach foundational computer science courses, but access to high-quality, affordable training has been limited—particularly in high-need districts.

Cal State LA’s CSSA program addresses this gap by offering courses aligned with state standards, flexible scheduling for working teachers, and a curriculum that centers equity, culturally relevant pedagogy, and applied technical training. To date, two cohorts of LAUSD teachers have completed training, and a third cohort of 24 educators began coursework this summer.

Housed within the College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology, the CSSA program is part of Cal State LA’s broader mission to expand access to STEM education and increase representation in technology-related fields. “The Google partnership amplifies what we’re building through the CSSA program,” said Kang.

“Together, we are helping teachers bring computer science into classrooms that have traditionally lacked access to these learning opportunities. We’re not only training educators—we’re empowering them to be leaders in this critical field. ” California State University, Los Angeles is the premier comprehensive public university in the heart of Los Angeles.

Cal State LA is ranked number one in the United States for the upward mobility of its students. Cal State LA is dedicated to engagement, service, and the public good, offering nationally recognized programs in science, the arts, business, criminal justice, engineering, nursing, education, and the humanities. Founded in 1947, the University serves more than 24,000 students and has more than 250,000 distinguished alumni.

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