About Us
WHO || WHAT || WHY
Our Mission.
Equipping the next generation with the coding skills necessary to thrive in an increasingly tech-driven world
Who we are.
The Coding School is a 501(c)(3) organization that aims to empower the next generation through computer science education. Founded by a Brown University undergraduate in 2014, The Coding School has grown into an international organization with 600+ instructors and students from over 10 countries participating in our programs. To ensure our programming and teaching is of the highest quality, we’re partnered with a number of internationally-renowned educational institutions, including: UCLA, USC Viterbi School of Engineering, Brown University, and Villanova University.
Recognizing coding as the universal language of the 21st century, we believe coding education must be dynamic. Thus, we are pushing the boundaries of traditional coding education, embracing a diverse set of approaches and programs to ensure all students, regardless of socioeconomic background, geographic location, or learning differences, develop the skills necessary to thrive in our tech-driven world. To date, we have four main initiatives: 4-year, in-classroom instruction; codeConnects, one-on-one coding lessons and mentorship; virtual classrooms, and a program for students with learning disabilities.
What we do.
What Drives Us.
Kiera Peltz, founder of The Coding School, is both a Gates-Cambridge Scholar, having earned her Masters with Distinction in Political and Economic Sociology at the University of Cambridge and a Schwarzman Scholar earning a second Masters in International Economics at Tsinghua University in Beijing. She is a graduate of Brown University, where she received her B.A. in Political Science and Happiness and is an advocate for putting people’s wellbeing at the forefront of policy making.
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As a second semester college freshman, Kiera was discouraged from declaring a computer science major - she was told it was too late to start. That following summer while attending an international conference in Seliger, Russia, Kiera met a group of Estonians, who spoke about the importance of early childhood coding, stating that it’s mandatory for every Estonian, starting at age seven, to learn how to code.
Upon returning to the United States, Kiera began critically examining the education system and came to realize that while the world has changed drastically in the past 50 years, our country’s public K-12 curriculum has remained relatively unaltered. She found a fundamental disconnect between what kids are taught and what they need to learn to thrive and become leaders. So she set out to fix the gap in the education system to ensure no child would lack the necessary skills of the 21st century. And thus, The Coding School was born.
We’re Growing
40
states
40,000 hours of coding instruction
11
countries
600+ instructors nationwide
80 creative & admin staff
Our Philosophy.
Coding is the key to social mobility.
Coding empowers students with special needs to thrive.
Coding education cannot be one-size-fits-all.
Coding education is a marathon, not a sprint.
Our Story.
A timeline of the how The Coding School went from an idea to one of the largest coding initiatives in the nation.
Fall 2012
Fall 2012
Kiera attends career fair at Brown University - discovers 95% of the companies represented are only hiring coders.
Spring 2013
Spring 2013
Kiera is discouraged from changing her major to Computer Science -- she is told it is too late.
Summer 2013
Summer 2013
While in the Russian wilderness for a leadership conference, Kiera learns every Estonian begins learning how to code at age 7.
Fall 2013
Fall 2013
Kiera sets out to help ensure the next generation of U.S. youth gain the necessary skills of the 21st century.
January 2014
January 2014
TCS is created.
February 2014
February 2014
TCS teaches it’s first coding classes to 109 K-8 students at Beverly Vista School in Los angeles.
Fall 2015
Fall 2015
TCS is considered by the NSF to conduct research on Coding and Early Education.
Spring 2017
Spring 2017
Striving to increase diversity in the field of CS the Conception of codeConnects is born.
Summer 2018
Summer 2018
codeConnects pilot program launches.
Summer 2019
Summer 2019
Conference
TCS is empowering underrepresented youth in 40 states and 11 countries through coding education.
Our Game Changing Approach to Coding Education.
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Ability to offer coding to literally any student in the U.S. -
Highest quality of curriculum - Our educational partners, USC and UCLA Schools of Engineering, ensure our curriculum & delivery are effective and on the cutting-edge. -
Developing diverse approaches to achieve diversity - Recognizing there is not a 'one-size-fits-all' to coding education, our initiatives overcome the lack of diversity and coders in the field of CS are ensuring all students are empowered through code rather than discouraged by it. -
Real coding challenges from real computer scientists. -
Long-term instruction - To ensure long-term coding support. -
1-on-1 lessons - We are the only program to offer individual and personal lessons on a large scale. -
Largest network of computer science educators in the nation - 500+ ! -
Real relatable role models - Our teachers match our students in terms of race, gender and socioeconomic status. -
Inspiring with real world apps - Our teachers bring a vast variety of coding application experiences personally into the childrens' lives.