To ensure greater equity among teaching students’ digital literacy — and to ensure that they can confidently and enthusiastically deliver such instruction to their diverse populations of students — the City University of New York (CUNY) in 2022 rolled out a four-year, $14 million initiative to incorporate such content for those planning to teach pre-K through 12th grade.
Given that 50% of CUNY freshmen come from New York City Public Schools, and 30% of new teachers in the city graduate from CUNY, the Computing Integrated Teacher Education (CITE) program will have a particularly concentrated effect within the five boroughs, says Aankit Patel, director of STEM education programs for CUNY, who adds that well-funded suburban schools typically can “layer on” professional development that otherwise exacerbates inequities.
“We have an ability to affect what’s…
