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. ECEP Connect brings CS education champions across the nation together to learn about and leverage ECEP resources, share and learn from successful BPC projects and strategies, and build lasting connections that elevate BPC work across the nation.

This year, over 180 people attended ECEP Connect, representing 47 states and Puerto Rico. Over 40 CS education leaders shared their expertise, resources, and experiences with the collective group. Reflecting on ECEP Connect, Janice Mak, from Arizona, shared “It was inspiring to hear from and learn from so many who are all working toward broadening participation in CS - whether leading from policy, advocacy, or instruction, ECEP was a kaleidoscope and showcased the best of what can happen when we all work together to ensure that we are building inclusive and equitable CS education experiences.”

Participants left ECEP Connect with BPC-centered resources successfully used in many states, including ECEP’s Landscape Report Toolkit and the Summit Planning Toolkit, along with proven strategies to build sustainable teams for BPC work, build and leverage a data dashboard, and support diverse student populations in CS courses. Other session topics focused on specific student populations, like Hispanic, Latine, and Indigenous students, identifying ways to recruit and enroll students who are too often denied access to high quality CS courses, accessibility and inclusive teaching practices, as well as the role of systems change efforts were highlighted throughout sessions.  

Representatives from the National Science Foundation (NSF), Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA), AccessComputing, National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity (NAPE), the Kapor Center, and Target hosted Partner Connect sessions. These sessions were designed to connect participants with supporting organizations and add to their own BPC toolbox.

To learn more about ECEP’s work, find us at ecepalliance.org. If you’re interested in using the Landscape Report Toolkit and the Summit Planning Toolkit, reach out to us via this form.