Computer Science for All

The National Science Foundation (NSF), through its Computer Science for All (CSforAll: Research and RPPs) solicitation (NSF 24-555), offers funding to support efforts that promote inclusive and accessible computer science (CS) and computational thinking (CT) education across preK–12 educational settings in the United States. Established by the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, NSF is the leading federal agency supporting research and education in all fields of science and engineering. This program specifically aligns with NSF’s broader mandate to expand participation in STEM and reduce disparities in access to educational opportunities for underrepresented and underserved communities, including poor, rural, tribal, and minoritized populations. The CSforAll initiative funds both research and research-practice partnerships (RPPs) that aim to integrate CS and CT into educational curricula at all grade levels. It seeks to support: (1) high school teachers through preparation, professional development, and ongoing support to teach rigorous CS courses; (2) preK-8 teachers with materials and training to incorporate CS/CT into their teaching; and (3) school districts in building and evaluating multi-grade CS/CT learning pathways. Projects may fall into one of four strands: PreK-8 Strand, High School Strand, PreK-12 Pathways Strand (all requiring RPPs), and a Research Strand (which does not require an RPP). Projects must specify their strand and funding size class (small, medium, large, or research) in the proposal summary. The estimated program budget for FY2024 is $20 million, supporting approximately 27 awards across size classes and strands. Small RPP proposals can request up to $300,000 over 2 years, medium up to $1,000,000 over 3 years, and large up to $2,000,000 over 4 years. Research Strand proposals can request up to $750,000 over 3 years. Cost sharing is prohibited, and indirect cost limitations are not applicable. While proposals may not include voluntary committed cost sharing, all projects must budget for annual attendance at an in-person PI meeting. Applications may be submitted via Research.gov or Grants.gov, and must comply with the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) applicable at the time of submission. Eligible applicants include accredited U.S.-based two- and four-year institutions of higher education (including community colleges), U.S.-based nonprofit non-academic organizations (e.g., museums, observatories, professional societies), and federally recognized Tribal Nations. There are no limitations on who may serve as PI or co-PI, nor are there limits on the number of proposals an institution or investigator may submit. Proposals must include a detailed project summary, full project description, and evaluation plan, along with supplementary documentation such as a list of project personnel. The next proposal deadlines are June 4, 2024, and February 12, 2025, with future cycles recurring annually on the second Wednesday of February. Proposals are reviewed using NSF’s merit review criteria of Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts, with additional focus on the effectiveness of strategies for broadening participation in computing. Contacts for programmatic questions include Fengfeng Ke (fke@nsf.gov), Michael Ford (miford@nsf.gov), and Margaret Hjalmarson (mhjalmar@nsf.gov). The program does not offer pre-application technical assistance webinars or Q&A sessions according to the source documentation. Successful applicants must maintain a website, participate in a common evaluation effort, and comply with annual and final reporting requirements through Research.gov.

Ensure project summary includes strand, size class, institutions, population, and keywords; all proposals must address broadening participation; missing required components result in return without review.