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Kansas State University’s College of Education, in partnership with the Rural Education Center, is using a Patterson Foundation grant to integrate computer science and place-based learning into rural Kansas schools. The program allows teachers to earn university credits in computer science and place-based education, equipping them to bring these subjects into their classrooms.

Place-based education focuses on connecting students’ learning to their local communities, helping them apply classroom knowledge to real-world situations where they live. By combining this approach with computer science instruction, the project addresses gaps between curriculum and community and reduces disparities between rural and urban schools. Rural students often have limited access to computer science, and many rural teachers work in communities similar to where they grew up, perpetuating this cycle.

The initiative builds on K-State’s previous Cyber Pipeline project, which introduced computer science courses to rural high schools and supported teacher professional development. The current program allows teachers to progress at their own pace, supporting beginners and maximizing completion rates. The grant aims to reach at least one teacher in every Kansas school district within a few years.