In January, 2018 the Pennsylvania State Board of Education endorsed the 2017 Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) K-12 Computer Science Standards. Local education agencies (LEAs) are encouraged to voluntarily adopt these standards to guide the implementation of computer science (CS) education.
In 2024, CSTA began revising the K–12 Computer Science Standards to address emerging priorities such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science, ethics, and the impacts of technology. Guided by research, teacher practice, and equity, the 2026 CSTA PK-12 Computer Science Standards were released in July 2026 to better prepare students for the future of computing.
It is anticipated that the Pennsylvania State Board of Education will endorse the 2026 CSTA PK–12 Computer Science Standards. The CSinPA team is using the 2026 standards to guide CS implementation across Pennsylvania. Moving forward, all CSinPA professional learning programs will align with the 2026 standards. CSinPA resources are under revision and new materials will be added to the toolkits.
The 2026 CSTA PK-12 CS Standards includes two sections: Foundational PK-12 Standards and High School Specialty Standards.
The 2026 CSTA PK–12 CS Standards are built around three components: concepts, practices, and dispositions. Together, these create a coherent learning progression from pre-kindergarten through high school. The standards begin with a combined PK/K band, followed by grade-level expectations for grades 1–5, a middle school band, and a foundational high school band.
Concepts define the knowledge and content students learn and serve as the primary organizational structure. The five concepts are:
- Algorithms & Design
- Programming
- Data & Analysis
- Systems & Security
- Computing & Society
Artificial intelligence (AI) was identified as a priority during the standards revision process. AI-related content is distributed across the five concepts instead of being a discrete concept.
Practices define the skills and behaviors students develop as they learn CS. They cut across all concepts and describe how students engage in learning, or what students do. Twelve practices are organized into four categories:
- Ethics & Social Responsibility
- Inclusive Collaboration
- Computational Thinking
- Human-Centered Design
Dispositions define the habits of mind students develop through learning computer science. They shape how students approach learning, problem-solving, and collaboration. The seven key dispositions are:
- Creativity
- Critical Thinking
- Curiosity
- Persistence
- Reflectiveness
- Resourcefulness
- A Sense of Belonging
The Specialty Standards are designed for high school students who are ready to explore advanced, domain-specific areas of computer science beyond the foundational PK–12 standards. These standards are organized into two levels—Specialty I and Specialty II—to provide a clear progression for students as they deepen their knowledge and skills.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Cybersecurity
- Data Science
- Game Development
- Physical Computing
- Software Development
- X + CS Standards