New Program Offers Students Opportunities to Join New Computer Science Honor Society Chapters

Beginning in Fall 2021, students in as many as 20 high schools in Georgia could have new Computer Science Honor Society (CSHS) chapters thanks to the Constellations Center for Equity in Computing (Constellations) and Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA.)

“We’re thrilled to welcome these new Georgia schools to the CS Honor Society community, which encourage students’ enthusiasm for computer science, honors their academic achievements, and promotes service toward their greater community with a focus on equity,” said Jake Baskin, executive director of CSTA. “I can’t wait to see the amazing impact these new chapters will have on their schools and districts.”

Constellations will assist schools by providing first-year funding for new chapters starting in the 2021-22 academic year. The funds will be directed toward initial fees to start a CSHS chapter for up to 20 students in each school for a maximum of $300 per school.

Schools must meet several criteria to be eligible for assistance, including a commitment to recruiting at least 50 percent female students into a new CSHS chapter. Eligible schools must also serve a majority of underrepresented students and/or serve a majority of students qualifying for free and reduced lunch.

Honor society members will be required to complete 10 service hours, with five being dedicated to service projects related to computer science. Members will also select one or more computer science-related projects each academic year that fulfill a need within their school or community.

The introduction of CSHS is a new step in Constellations’ mission to ensure that all students – especially students of color, women, and others underserved in K-12 and post-secondary institutions – have access to quality computer science education. Since 2017, Constellations has partnered with Georgia high schools to introduce advanced placement computer science courses in addition to professional development opportunities for educators.

“I believe that helping schools to start CSHS chapters will help educators and students better understand the importance of computing knowledge and its application to the real world. Through the service commitment, students are using computer science to help solve community issues they care about in addition to gaining leadership skills and having fun with computing in an equitable environment,” said Lien Diaz, director of educational innovation and leadership at Constellations.

Applications for assistance close April 23. Selected schools will be notified mid-May. For more information on selection criteria and CSHS, visit http://constellations.gatech.edu/computer-science-honor-society