Expanding access to and participation in computing education took center stage in March 2026, as the Expanding Computing Education Pathways (ECEP) Alliance convened its annual Summit at the J.J. Pickle Research Campus at The University of Texas at Austin.
The only thing that is constant is change. Dr. Jaci McCune has accepted the position of ECEP Alliance Director. Brianna Johnston of Sagefox Consulting Group is our new ECEP Program Manager. The entire ECEP leadership team looks forward to executing on our mission to broaden participation in computing by identifying and addressing the policies, pathways, and practices in state education systems that are barriers to universal student engagement and success.
The ECEP Alliance, now in 29 states and Puerto Rico, has received a five-year NSF renewal to expand computing education access. In 2025, it will launch new initiatives, including ECEP Connected and Cohort 5 of the Common Metrics Project, while welcoming new leadership to drive equity-focused policy and teacher capacity research.
In 2005, the NSF launched BPC Alliances to address disparities in computing by funding national coalitions that promote diversity through outreach, mentorship, research, and policy.
Published by: CRA
Committed to serving as a national hub for broadening participation in computing (BPC), the Expanding Computing Education Pathways (ECEP) Alliance held its annual virtual summit, ECEP Connect, on October 17th.
At the Expanding Computing Education Pathways (ECEP) Alliance, we’ve dedicated two recent ECEP Alliance call agendas to building and rebuilding diverse state teams. To tackle the complex challenge of broadening participation in computing (BPC) education at the state level, the ECEP Alliance relies on coordinated and multi-sector state teams. There are two key aspects of ECEP’s 5-Stage Model for State Change that identify the need for and value of coordinated state teams: 1) Finding leaders and change agents; and 2) Gathering and organizing allies to establish goals and develop strategic plans. ECEP places significant value on the team model for …
Since 2012, the Expanding Computing Education Pathways (ECEP) Alliance has emerged as a pivotal force in the Broadening Participation in Computing (BPC) landscape. By serving as a central locus for BPC efforts, ECEP has underscored the importance of collective impact in driving equitable computer science education policies, programs, and practices. This collaborative approach harnesses the strengths of multiple stakeholders to effect systemic change, ensuring that diverse perspectives and expertise are leveraged to address the complex challenges in computing education.