A complete guide to the Tennessee K–12 Computer Science Standards and how to integrate them into your K-12 Curriculum. Kick things off with free, ready-to-teach lessons, fully aligned to Tennessee standards.
We’ve created a comprehensive guide for teachers and district leaders on the Tennessee State Department of Education’s rollout of K–12 Computer Science standards. This guide outlines how district and school leaders can effectively implement a curriculum that meets state requirements. It begins with the history and an in-depth analysis of the standards, followed by actionable implementation steps.
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In 2022, the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) wrote the first draft of the Tennessee K-12 Computer Science State Standards with the intention that these standards would become a foundational part of Tennessee K-12 education. They were designed to be accessible to all students, rather than only those already drawn to technology-based careers.
The Tennessee K-12 Computer Science State Standards were approved on February 10, 2023, with a mandatory implementation date of the 2024-2025 school year.
The specific details are as follows. In K-5 Elementary School, the standards are required to be embedded into the curriculum. In 6-8 Middle School, the standards are both required to be embedded into the curriculum and students are required to complete one single credit course called G40X25 before High School.
In June 2024, the TDOE released the Computer Science Standards Implementation Guidebook with clear Core-Concepts and Sub-Concepts. Download this CS Guidebook here
The Tennessee K–12 Computer Science Standards are structured around six Core Concepts: (1) Computing Systems, (2) Networks and the Internet, (3) Data and Analysis, (4) Algorithms and Programming, (5) Impacts of Computing, and (6) Computational Thinking.
Each of these six Core Concepts is represented in equal measure because they are designed to interconnect and support one another like strands in a woven fabric of understanding. As students move through their educational journey, they will progress from simply exploring these ideas to experiencing them firsthand, and ultimately demonstrating mastery.
The Sub-Concepts within each Core Concept segment the learning into focused topics - for example, understanding hardware components within Computing Systems, exploring data collection in Data and Analysis, or designing solutions in Algorithms and Programming.
This layered approach ensures that all students build a strong, balanced foundation in computer science, preparing them for the evolving demands of the digital world.
For each Sub-Concept the curriculum shows the desired student progression through each of the grade bands. Looking at the first example of Foundational Concepts (FC): Computing Systems Hardware.
In the excerpt you'll see:
Now let’s take a closer look at what the standards actually require and how to start bringing them into your classroom. Below, you’ll find a table based on the TDOE Implementation Guide that outlines a real example from Early Elementary (K–2), with each part broken down for clarity.
You can read the complete document from the Tennessee Department of Education here
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In the excerpt you'll see:
This is exactly where Code4Kids steps in to make things simple for teachers, especially those with no prior experience in Computer Science. Teaching CS in Grades K-8 is vital, and the only way to do it effectively is by ensuring educators have the support and resources they need to succeed.
The first step is choosing the right starting point for your learners. A successful Computer Science rollout is typically phased in over two to three years and no one knows your students better than you, their teacher, does. That’s why Code4Kids makes it easy to adapt our curriculum to your context, with a clear structure that supports progression at a pace that works for your school.
For Lower Elementary level, simply begin at the grade level that best matches your students' needs. Each course is designed to be flexible, with no strict prerequisites - these grade-level suggestions simply serve as a recommended starting point.
Choose the starting point that aligns with your students’ current skill level. While each course builds on key concepts, they are designed to be accessible without formal prerequisites. Our grade-level guidance is there to help you plan effectively, not to limit your options.
All Middle School students are required to earn one credit by completing the G25X40 course. This flexible course can be taught in Grade 6, 7, or 8, and is designed to be completed over either a 9-week or 18-week schedule, with a total time commitment of 30-40 hours.
Code4Kids is a partnership, not only a product. We first and foremost fundamentally believe the most important person in a classroom is your teacher, so we invest in your teachers and do everything we can to ensure successfully usage.
We can show you that any teacher can teach CS without requiring CS certification.
Secondly, we exist to give your students career ready skills. We veer away from game-based learning. And we want to step up to real-world learning.
We begin by listening. Every district is different, so we start with a collaborative conversation to understand your unique goals, challenges, and current Computer Science programs.
During this process, we will develop:
Once we’re on board, we kick off your first phase of implementation - smoothly and strategically.
We provide regular updates that celebrate progress and impact. This includes the following:
Technology moves fast. We help your district stay ahead. We achieve this by:
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