BootUp PowerUp: A $25M Commitment to K-5 CS & AI Education

BootUp PowerUp: A $25M Commitment to K-5 CS & AI Education

Monday, April 7, 2025 11:20 AM to 12:00 PM · 40 min. (America/Los_Angeles)
Room 5, Exhibit Hall E-G
K-12AI/MLAI Teaching TechnologiesEquity & AccessImplementation StrategiesPersonalized & Adaptive Learning

Information

The future of the U.S. as a global tech leader hinges on one critical factor: early access to computer science and AI education. Yet, despite the surging demand for digital skills, fewer than half of U.S. public schools teach CS — and AI education is virtually nonexistent in elementary grades. This lack of early exposure deepens educational inequities, leaving millions of students — especially in rural and under-resourced communities — without the skills needed for the future tech economy and workforce.

BUT WHAT IF WE COULD CHANGE THAT? BootUp Professional Development is leading the charge with a bold $25 million initiative to revolutionize K-5 CS and AI education over the next decade. Through cutting-edge curriculum, AI-powered instructional coaching, and strategic policy integration, BootUp will create sustainable pathways for every young learner—no matter their zip code—to gain essential digital skills. Through this transformative effort, BootUp will:

  • Expand to 100+ new districts, reaching millions of students with CS and AI education.
  • Empower thousands of teachers with AI-powered coaching and ongoing professional support.
  • Eliminate geographic and socioeconomic barriers by prioritizing rural and under-resourced schools.
  • Shape state and national policies to support CS and AI as core K-5 subjects, ensuring lasting impact.
Channels
K-12 Classroom & Student Voice
Track
K-12 Classroom & Administrative LeadersK-12 District/System LeadersAdoption & Procurement LeadersCurriculum Designer LeadersSTEM Leaders
BootUp PDG54BootUp Professional Development, a national 501(c)(3) organization, implements elementary computer science and AI initiatives through professional development (PD), model teaching, coaching, curricula, and an Instructional Coach Course. BootUp works closely with each district to create a custom initiative, then provides the PD, curriculum, and support to develop complete and sustainable elementary coding and AI programs. Through ongoing professional development and mentoring, BootUp equips teachers with the experience and resources to be successful, confident coding teachers. Teachers learn how to engage students through easy-to-use, block-based programming languages. Students create and share interactive stories, animations, games, art, music, and more through problem-solving and other fundamental computer science concepts and practices (based on the K12 CS Framework and CSTA Standards). No prior coding experience is required, and BootUp’s support includes a free, interest-driven curriculum with nearly 100 class projects (and more to come) for grades K-6. Learning AI and computer science skills helps students develop into logical thinkers, problem solvers, creators, and collaborators. Teaching computer science and AI during the school day to all elementary students helps ensure that underrepresented groups participate and succeed in this much-needed 21st-century skill set.

Registered attendees

Emily Wang
Emily Wang
StudentBoston College
JM
Jeffrey Moore
Director of InstructionVan Buren Public Schools
Latrenda Knighten
Latrenda Knighten
PresidentNational Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM)

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