Computer Science Equity Program

The Illinois State Board of Education administers the Computer Science Equity Program, a competitive state grant established under Public Act 103-0264 to expand equitable access to K-12 computer science education. The program supports coordinated statewide professional learning and program development intended to reduce barriers to computer science participation and improve equity outcomes for students. Its goals include expanding access to computer science coursework aligned with rigorous state standards and emerging labor market needs, increasing educator proficiency in teaching computer science, improving classroom resources, recruiting students who are underrepresented in the computer science workforce, and preparing K-8 students for successful participation in secondary computer science coursework and future computer science careers. The program has $1,500,000 in estimated total funding, subject to availability and appropriations. The stated award range is $10,000 to $100,000, and entities with an approvable budget that receive an award may receive up to $100,000 per year. Funding may support teacher professional learning, classroom materials and equipment related to computer science instruction, recruitment and service of students underrepresented in the computer science labor market, and K-8 initiatives that prepare students for later computer science coursework or careers. No more than 80 percent of grant funds may be used for materials and equipment. At least five percent of the grant award or $2,000, whichever is greater, must support training for teachers, counselors, and principals that is aligned with or supportive of the proposed uses of grant funds. Professional learning must occur outside the contractual school day to qualify as a reimbursable expense. Equipment and technology purchases require appropriately trained educators or a plan for such training. Grant funds may not supplant activities already funded with local, state, or federal resources. The NOFO does not require cost sharing or matching. Eligible applicants are Regional Offices of Education, Intermediate Service Centers, state higher education institutions, laboratory schools, area vocational centers, charter schools, and school districts. Applicants must complete the applicable State of Illinois Grant Accountability and Transparency Act prequalification requirements before submission, have an active and publicly listed Unique Entity Identifier through SAM.gov, meet applicable state good-standing and exclusion requirements, and possess an RCDT code before applying. First-time applicants requiring an RCDT code are advised that processing may take up to four weeks. An eligible entity may participate in only one application, determined by Federal Employer Identification Number. Joint applications are permitted when all participants are eligible, but they must designate an administrative and fiscal agent and include the required signed Memorandum of Understanding describing collaboration, responsibilities, resource sharing, management, student selection, data collection, and financial arrangements. A complete proposal consists of the Uniform Application for State Grant Assistance, a Program Narrative of no more than five pages, Objectives and Activities of no more than five pages, a Proposal Evaluation Design of no more than five pages, the State Budget Summary and Payment Schedule, the Budget Summary Breakdown, and Joint Applicant MOU materials when applicable. The Uniform Application must be signed by the official authorized to submit the proposal, and district budgets must be signed by the district superintendent. Applications may be emailed to standards@isbe.net. Proposals submitted without a required joint-application MOU, without the required authorized signature, before obtaining an RCDT code, without completing required GATA prequalification steps, or after the deadline are ineligible and will not be read. Applications are evaluated on Need, worth 20 points; Capacity, worth 25 points; Quality, worth 20 points; Sustainability, worth 15 points; and Cost-Effectiveness, Impact, and Evaluation, worth 20 points. An additional 20 priority points are available for proposals demonstrating meaningful efforts to recruit and serve K-12 populations underrepresented in the computer science labor market, including proposals serving populations with underrepresented gender or racial and ethnic identities or schools and districts with limited computer science access or advanced computer science coursework. Proposals scoring fewer than 60 points will not be funded. In a tie, the applicant receiving the higher number of priority points receives priority. Awards are made according to application scores and available funds, with higher-scoring applications receiving priority until available funding is exhausted. The application deadline was August 3, 2026, at 5 p.m. The NOFO was posted June 18, 2026, and the recorded technical assistance session was scheduled for posting July 15, 2026; participation in the technical assistance session was not mandatory. Changes to the NOFO and updates to the FAQ were to cease after July 27, 2026. Successful and unsuccessful applicants were anticipated to receive award or non-award notices by email approximately 90 days after the application deadline. An award notice itself does not authorize performance or expenditures. The initial grant period begins no sooner than January 1, 2027, and runs from execution of the grant through June 30, 2027. Successful applicants may reapply by continuing application for up to two additional years, but renewal depends on appropriations, compliance with applicable requirements, and satisfactory performance and is not guaranteed. The NOFO does not establish a recurring annual competition schedule. Grant recipients must submit quarterly expenditure reports, a mid-year programmatic report by December 31, and an annual report by September 30, with additional reporting possible based on programmatic risk. The three-year program framework identifies FY 2027 as the planning year, FY 2028 as implementation with at least 50 percent of the implementation plan completed, and FY 2029 as implementation and sustainability planning with at least 90 percent completed. Questions and application package requests may be directed to the Illinois State Board of Education Standards and Instruction Department at standards@isbe.net or 217-782-4322. The named agency contact is Neha Thakkar.

Address every scored criterion with specific evidence: document local student and staffing needs, educator professional learning needs, required resources, implementation capacity, partnerships, recruitment and selection of instructional staff, strategies for low-income participation, objectives and enrollment expectations, Illinois Computer Science Learning Standards alignment, timeline, sustainability resources, and cost-effectiveness and impact evaluation. Ensure all required signatures and, for joint applications, the signed MOU are included. Proposals below 60 points will not be funded. Clearly document priority-point factors concerning underrepresented learners and gaps in existing computer science access.