CS Principles, A New First Course in Computing

Computer Science: Principles is a new course under development that seeks to broaden participation in computing and computer science. Development is being led by a team of computer science educators organized by the College Board and the National Science Foundation. Pilots are ongoing at the high school and college levels. Advanced Placement credit is not currently offered for this course-- present efforts in CS Principles are part of the requisite  process to make it an AP course. The test will debut in May 2016 or later. 

CS Principles Links

  • The College Board Website with links to the curriculum framework and information about many aspects of the CS Principles Project including the curriculum framework also linked below.

Current Documents
In mid-July 2014 the College Board announced that rather than three performance tasks, which had been piloted during 2013-2014, that from 2014-15 and onward there would be only two performance tasks --- the investigate/data task was dropped in July. New Versions of the tasks will be made available soon.
    • Performance Tasks (january 2014)  View    Download 
      • Rubrics (updated April 11, 2014) --- these rubrics will not be used in 2014 to score performance tasks, but to help determine how the performance tasks might change and to help understand how students work. Draft Rubrics: View Download
    • Performance Tasks Teacher Guide (january 2014)  View    Download 


Archived Documents
  • Assessment Items
  • Curriculum Framework 
    • Released March 2014: 
      • Enduring Understandings, Learning Objectives, Essential Knowledge  View Download
    • Released August 2013
      • Enduring Understandings, Learning Objectives, Essential Knowledge   View    Download
    • Released August 2012
      • Computational Thinking Practices and Big Ideas, Key Concepts, Supporting Concepts  View    Download
      • Learning Objectives and Evidence Statements   View    Download
    • Released August 2011
      • Course Annotations    View    Download
      • Computational Thinking Practices and Big Ideas, Key Concepts, Supporting Concepts  View    Download
      • Learning Objectives and Evidence Statements   View    Download
    • Released September 2010
      • Big Ideas, Key Concepts, and Supporting Concepts   View    Download
  • Pilot sites 
  • People leading the CS Principles project
  • Contact us

Attestation

This project has completed an attestation process, gaining the support of over 80 colleges and universities! To learn more about the schools that have publicly attested to the CS Principles course, or to better understand the attestation, check out the list of supporting schools. 

 
Welcome to the CS Principles website! Here you will find information about CS Principles, resources for teachers, and details about the sponsored early adopters currently piloting CS Principles. 


 Announcements 
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