Who is eligible to participate in AI Advancement for All?
All high schools are expected to complete this portion of the application to support implementation of the New York State Computer Science and Digital Fluency Standards. All schools are eligible to participate in Focus Area 1: AI Literacy Implementation. Schools may also apply for Focus Areas 2-4 based on their current level of CS/AI implementation, staffing capacity, and student needs. Schools are not expected to already have CS or AI expertise; need for capacity building is a valid selection factor.
Are all high schools required to apply to this section?
All NYCPS high schools are expected to implement the New York State Computer Science and Digital Fluency Standards. Schools that are not yet implementing these standards, or that need additional support to strengthen implementation, are encouraged to apply to the AI Advancement for All section to receive professional learning, instructional resources, and implementation support.
Do schools need an existing computer science program to apply?
No. Schools do not need to currently offer CS or AI courses to apply. AI Advancement for All is designed to support schools at all stages of implementation -from those just beginning to those expanding advanced coursework. Schools with limited or no existing CS/AI offerings are encouraged to apply.
Are schools without a certified computer science teacher eligible to apply?
Yes. Schools are not required to have a certified CS teacher at the time of application. Schools must demonstrate a plan to staff the course and ensure participating educators complete required professional learning.
Are schools required to administer the AP CSP exam if they are participating in Focus Area 4: AP Computer Science Principles (CSP)?
Yes. Schools offering AP CSP are expected to administer the AP CSP exam and support students in completing the exam.
What costs does the Focus Area 4: AP Computer Science Principles (CSP) cover?
AP CSP financial support includes: professional learning for teachers, per-session funding for training, instructional and implementation resources, and coverage of AP CSP exam fees pending on funding availability.
Can schools utilize Focus Area 3: CS College & Career Readiness Experiences to support college trips?
Yes. Schools may use Focus Area 3: CS College & Career Readiness Experiences to support transportation, materials, and related costs for CS- and AI-aligned college visits, industry visits, and other career-connected learning experiences that expose students to academic programs, careers, and opportunities in technology fields.
Does support include how to incorporate AI within existing curriculum, and/or how to develop new curriculum?
Yes, we will provide an instructional curriculum to support AI integration.
Can we see the AI curriculum and modules?
Please find the AI instructional Module overview from this link: AI-focused Instructional Module Overview
We already have CS software pathway, and we are teaching APCSP. Can we add AI?
Yes! The AI Literacy module has 16 lessons, so it won't be a stand-alone course but will fit as part of the career exploration course.
Is the CS data going to be 'pro-rated'? For example, our CS data point doesn't show 100% because it isn't in 9th grade, but by the time every student graduates, all have had CS. If the students included were only the 12th grade, it would be 100% because all have it by graduation.
We will be able to see your CS data from each grade as well as CS data of 9-12 gradeband. CS data of 9-12 gradeband will show students' accumulated CS experience throughout their 9-12 grades.
Are School Points of Contact for Technology (SPOCs) expected to complete this portion of the application?
The SAM application has been shared across many networks. All schools are encouraged to review the application with stakeholders who can help inform the need and support of the SAM application area. The school point of contact that will be responsible for completing the deliverables within this portion of the SAM should complete the application.
Is AP Computer Science required?
It is not required; when you get to the AI Advancement for All portion in the application, you’ll get to choose the focus area(s) you would like to pursue. You can choose multiple focus areas. We provided four focus areas to support schools with their computer science and artificial intelligence classroom instructional implementation, and support schools with the state's requirement to implement NYS Computer Science and Digital Fluency standards.
Is a 3/2 split class model possible? Does it have to be a 5-day-a-week class?
Participating schools have the flexibility to determine how to best implement instruction from the curricula within the classroom. If schools would like support in determining how to implement the instruction in the classroom, members of our team can meet with you to discuss further and provide guidance.
What is the AI component you are introducing for next year?
Next year, we are introducing a structured AI literacy component grounded in foundational computer science and computational thinking. Schools will implement standards-aligned AI instructional modules that help students understand how AI systems work, evaluate outputs critically, and use AI responsibly. This work includes targeted professional learning for educators, classroom implementation of AI lessons, and progress monitoring through STARS and student enrollment data to ensure measurable growth in student access.
Schools may select one or more focus areas, including AI Literacy Implementation, Foundational CS & CT Capacity Building, CS College & Career Readiness Experiences, and AP Computer Science Principles, based on their current readiness and goals. For more information on the AI module overview referenced in focus are 1, please click here. For additional details on focus areas 1-4, please review the SAM Companion Deck.