STEM

CodePath to Expand Computer Science Education in Atlanta and Chicago

• By Rhea Kelly
• 09/09/22

CodePath, a nonprofit focused on computer science education for students in underserved communities, recently received $1 million in funding from Google to grow its programs in Atlanta and Chicago. The organization is one of several garnering support from the tech giant, which last week announced $20 million in new grants aimed at expanding access to CS education nationwide.

CodePath partners with colleges and tech companies to provide no-cost CS courses and create pathways to in-demand tech careers, targeted on the needs of students who self-identify as Black, Latinx, or Indigenous, as well as students who come from low-income backgrounds. The courses are developed in collaboration with industry experts to help close the gaps between existing computer science curricula and industry needs.

Through a partnership with Georgia State University, CodePath is already offering its programs to the school's Computer Science students. "The CS department has a strong interest in improving the career readiness skills of our students," commented Xiaolin Hu, computer science professor and director of undergraduate studies at GSU, in a statement. "CodePath courses offer a unique opportunity for our students to learn these skills in a rigorous and industry-oriented setting."

"In bringing access to CodePath courses to these communities, these programs will not only open doors to new futures in technology, but also bring new and necessary diverse perspectives to an ever-changing and impactful field," added Doris Sanchez Velasquez, a GSU student and recent full-stack web development graduate of CodePath's Summer Internship for Tech Excellence program.

With Google's support, CodePath plans to expand to other universities across Atlanta and Chicago, with the ultimate goal to "transform the economic futures of young people, their families, and their communities."

For more information on CodePath's programs, visit codepath.org.