The CME Group Foundation announced Thursday that it is awarding more than $900,000 in new grants to Chicago Public Schools and local nonprofits to support computer science programs in underserved communities.
The grants are designed to reduce “computer science deserts” and ensure more students have access to STEM resources. Since 2014, CME says it has provided more than $1.2 million to CPS.
The grants will support summer and after-school programs for K-12 students in schools identified in a study conducted by Northwestern University that show which of the city's neighborhoods are lacking STEM resources. The study concluded that most underserved schools only provided introductory-level opportunities.
Over the next two academic years, CME's grants will support programs that give students hands-on experience with coding languages, computational thinking, engineering skills, video game and app development, and robotics.
"We believe all students need to have computer science education throughout their K-12 years today in order to be best positioned to fill tomorrow's job opportunities in the financial and technology sectors," said Kassie Davis, the executive director of the CME Group Foundation, in a statement. "These grants are a step toward closing the digital divide and increasing access to computers and technology throughout our entire community."
CME isn’t the only corporation donating STEM resources to CPS and Chicago’s youth. Salesforce announced earlier this summer that it was giving $1 million in two grants to CPS and i.c.stars, a local workforce development organization focused on diversity.
Additionally, both Apple and Google have made investments in CPS. Last year, Apple launched coding programs in CPS for both students and teachers. And in 2017, Google gave $1.5 million to CPS and Chance the Rapper’s foundation to help local students gain better access to computer science education.
