Since 2013, MassCAN has played an important leadership role, along with many other passionate advocates and partners, in promoting equitable opportunities for all Massachusetts students to have access to quality K–12 computer science education.

A complicated array of public and private funding challenges have prevented MassCAN from reaching its full potential to foster and support a broad collaborative effort to expand computer science education in the state. Thus, MassCAN suspended operations as of August 31, 2018. This suspension will give the program and government leaders time to seek a more viable funding model and to explore ways to best take the foundation MassCAN has built to the next level.

Given its broad and deep expertise in K–12 computer science education, Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC), remains eager to help the state promote equitable opportunities for all Massachusetts students to access quality K–12 computer science education. Should a viable and sustainable funding model emerge to support this work, EDC would welcome the opportunity to continue a partnership to advance MassCAN’s goals.

As new developments arise related to MassCAN and K–12 computer science education in Massachusetts, links to that information will be posted here. During this period, questions and requests for information may be addressed to:

Additionally, Anne DeMallie, Digital Literacy and Computer Science Content Support Lead and Computer Science and STEM Integration Specialist at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, is deeply knowledgeable about the state’s K–12 computer science activities. Requests for information can be addressed to Anne via phone (781-338-3527) or email (ademallie@doe.mass.edu).

Note: Jim Stanton, MassCAN co-founder and Executive Director, retired from MassCAN effective August 31, 2018, but remains a Senior Project Director at EDC on a part-time basis through early 2019.