City of El ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½, ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½, EPISD Share Early Results of El ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Computes Initiative
More than 250 teachers and 150 students have received computer science, AI education
EL PASO, Texas (January 6, 2026) ― El ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Computes, a collaborative initiative focused on expanding computer science, artificial intelligence (AI) and computational thinking education across K–12 schools, is making impact in the region, according to a new report by the City of El ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½, The University of Texas at El ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ and the El ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Independent School District (EPISD).
El ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Computes is supported by a $3 million investment from the City of El ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ and is designed to build long-term educational capacity by preparing teachers, strengthening educator preparation programs and expanding hands-on learning opportunities for students, particularly in underserved communities.
“El ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Computes is an investment in our young people and in El ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½’s economic future,” said Mayor Renard U. Johnson. “By training teachers to bring coding, AI and computational thinking into classrooms across the city, we are preparing students for the careers and industries we are working to grow here at home. It also reflects our broader commitment to expanding opportunity for youth and ensuring more students can participate in the technology-driven economy.”
“Computer Science is one of our fastest growing majors at ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½. We attribute that growth to early work with the K-12 schools — exposing students to coding and computing,” said ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ President Heather Wilson. “El ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Computes builds on this and exposes even more young people to computing by reaching even more teachers. We are grateful to our partnership with the city to make that happen.”
“El ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Computes strongly aligns with El ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ ISD’s commitment to deliver academic excellence and opportunities for our students,” said El ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ ISD Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Brian Lusk. “We’re seeing firsthand how this program is supporting both teachers and students, empowering educators with new tools and inspiring students to build confidence and curiosity in technology driven learning.”
Program Progress and Early Outcomes
Since launch, El ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Computes has made steady progress toward its three-year goal of preparing 750 teachers and reaching more than 20,000 K–12 students across the region. Highlights to date include:
- Teacher Training and Certification
- More than 287 current K–12 teachers and teacher residents across participating districts have engaged in El ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Computes professional development and coursework.
- 64 educators have completed formal course requirements.
- 10 or more teachers have earned certification in 8–12 Computer Science.
- Faculty-led workshops have covered computational thinking, AI literacy, coding fundamentals, prompt engineering and responsible classroom use of AI.
- Educator Preparation and Curriculum
- ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ has launched TED 4550: Computational Thinking for Educators, a required course now fully embedded in its teacher preparation curriculum.
- All future teachers graduating from ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½’s College of Education will receive foundational training in computational thinking and computer science concepts.
- Student Learning Opportunities
- Summer cybersecurity and artificial intelligence camps have served more than 190 middle and high school students in 2025, providing hands-on exposure to technology skills aligned with high-demand careers.
- Building Sustainable Capacity
- 37 ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ and EPCC faculty members have completed specialized training to strengthen instruction for future educators, helping ensure long-term program sustainability.
Measuring Impact and Looking Ahead
An independent evaluation of El ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Computes found statistically significant gains in participating teachers’ computer science and AI knowledge and confidence and willingness to teach these subjects. Educators also reported increased comfort using AI tools responsibly to support instruction and student learning.
While EPISD is serving as the pilot district, El ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Computes is designed to expand participation across school districts throughout the region. The City of El ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½, ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ and education partners will continue scaling teacher training, certification pathways and student programming over the next two years.
Last Updated on January 06, 2026 at 12:00 AM | Originally published January 06, 2026
By MC Staff ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Marketing and Communications
