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Recognizing December 8 through December 14, 2025 as Computer Science Education Week in the City of Philadelphia.
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WHEREAS, Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek) is an annual call to action to inspire K-12 students to learn computer science, advocate for equity in computer science education, and celebrate the contributions of students, teachers, and partners to the field. This week is held in recognition of the birthday of Admiral Grace Murray Hopper on December 9th, who invented the first compiler. Admiral Murray Hopper coined the term “bug”, which signifies an error in a program, after removing an actual moth from a computer in 1947; and
WHEREAS, In 2009, Computer Science Education Week was launched by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) to inspire K-12 students in computer science and address the importance of having it as a core academic subject; and
WHEREAS, In July 2013, the Computing the Core coalition members agreed to allow Code.org to organize that year’s CSEdWeek around a new idea and theme the “Hour of Code”. The Hour of Code is a global initiative that takes place during the Computer Science Education Week to introduce millions of students to computer science basics through one-hour coding activities. In 2024, 205 schools across the district participated in the Hour of the Code exposing more than 23,000 students to the fundamentals of coding which represents a 32.5% increase in participation compared to 2023; and
WHEREAS, The theme for Computer Science Education Week 2025 is “CS Powers AI Innovation” emphasizing how computer science fundamentals are essential for developing and understanding artificial intelligence. As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes our world, a deep understanding of computer science fundamentals isn’t just an advantage, it is essential; and
WHEREAS, The School District of Philadelphia provides a comprehensive K-12 continuum of digital literacy, technology, and computer science education including a K-8 curriculum in digital citizenship, internet safety, AI literacy, digital tools, media literacy, research, and evaluation, computer science fundamentals and coding. High school computer science access has expanded through partnerships with Temple University and Drexel University resulting in 26 high schools offering computer science a 73.33% increase since 2017-2018 school year; and
WHEREAS, The Urban Technology Project is a nationally recognized apprenticeship program under the Office of Information Technology in the School District of Philadelphia. There are three Technology Apprenticeships titles registered with the PA Department of Labor and Industries such as the Computer Support Specialist (CSS), Software Developer Apprentice (SDA), and the AmeriCorps Digital Service Fellow (DSF), and together they provide paid work experience, industry certification, and mentorship that leads to a career in technology; and
WHEREAS, The AmeriCorps Digital Service Fellows (DSF), who are tech mentors ages 18 to 24, currently support schools across the School District of Philadelphia and lead after-school tech clubs at 24 schools two days per week, contributing 1,700 hours of service per fellow each year totaling approximately 40,000 hours annually and more than 775,000 hours of service since 2006; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby recognizes December 8 through December 14, 2025, as Computer Science Education Week in the City of Philadelphia.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this Resolution will be presented to Urban Technology Project as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.
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