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Kansas State University’s College of Education announced it is expanding its support for rural schools and advancing computer science education with a $2.9 million grant from the Patterson Family Foundation.

Through a project led by Karen Eppley, associate professor of education and director of K-State’s Rural Education Center, teachers from 10 rural Kansas elementary schools will receive help integrating place-based education into their curriculum. The goal is to strengthen connections between schools and their communities by helping teachers use local history and culture as tools for learning.

“We’re trying to bridge the gap between curriculum and community,” Eppley said. “Rural places tend to be known as places where schools and communities are tightly knit, and we want to build on this by working with teachers to operationalize what they already know about their place and use it as a tool to engage students in learning about their communities.”

The initiative also builds on K-State’s Cyber Pipeline program, which promotes computer science education in rural areas. Students will explore Kansas history using computer science as a learning tool, combining technology with lessons about their local communities.

Eppley said the project supports rural economic vitality by encouraging students to pursue computer science skills that can lead to remote career opportunities, allowing them to live and work in their hometowns. “A lot of computer science jobs are remote, it allows students to stay in place, make a good living wage and contribute to the local economy.”

The College of Education will host a kickoff event on Nov. 13 to connect with participating teachers and begin building resources and professional development opportunities for rural educators.