Speight Elementary launches Code to the Future program after grant funding
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Summary
District leaders introduced a district pilot 'Code to the Future' program at Speight Elementary funded by a grant; teachers completed LETRS-style training and are beginning student showcases that blend coding with art and literacy.
Wichita Public Schools presented a new "Code to the Future" initiative at Speight Elementary, describing a grant-funded program designed to teach structured coding, computational thinking and digital literacy in K 3 settings.
Rob Dixon, the district's chief information officer, told the Board the program emphasizes coding as a language that supports logic, creativity and problem solving and will include classroom showcases modeled on earlier district events. "Coding empowers our students to learn and express themselves in a new language," Dixon said.
Dylan Osborne, SpeightElementary principal, described teacher training that began late after the grant award but said teachers "were ready to jump in" and students are engaging with projects during free time. Presenters said the program uses tangible, arts-based approaches early on so students can access coding concepts without being on a screen.
District staff characterized Speight as the first Code to the Future school in Kansas under this initiative and said the award will fund materials and professional learning; board members asked that administration report back on student performance and program rollout.
The board did not take action on the item; presentations will be incorporated into future updates.