The ECEP Alliance is hosting its inaugural ECEP Connect Virtual Summit on September 27th, 2023 from 1-6 PM ET. ECEP –  which supports 30 member states and territories efforts to broaden participation in K-16 computing – developed ECEP Connect as an initiative to extend the use of its resources to all states and U.S. territories. With the initiative’s summit theme of “plugging into CS policy, practices, and pathways”, the ECEP team will provide a much-needed collaborative space for all states to network, engage with ECEP resources, and share opportunities and obstacles associated with broadening participation in computing. 

Topics for the event include: 

• Catalyzing diverse state-level leadership teams
• The ECEP Landscape Toolkit: Building data dashboards and common state-level metrics for identifying and measuring broadening participation in computing efforts
• Strategies for Effective and Inclusive CS teaching (ScIP): Research-based best practices for creating inclusive computing classrooms
• The ECEP Summit Toolkit: Supporting state and national summits focused on broadening participation in computing
• Collaborating with industry leaders for advocacy and policy change

On the excitement around this event, ECEP Alliance Deputy Director, Andrea Wilson-Vazquez shared, “We’re bringing together so many state leaders for this event! It can be challenging to navigate systems change individually…and there’s such power in our collective. I’m excited to let states know they don’t have to go about it alone, share our resources with them, and help them navigate our tools. Most importantly, plugging them into our network of support. At the end of the day, it takes us all to expand equitable pathways into computing.”

Applications to attend are currently open. To ensure interactive sessions, registration is required and limited to a select number of participants.