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Marilyn Katz
Friday, October 28, 2016 10:29 PM
emanuel, rahm (Mayor_re@rahmemail.com)
FW: Expanding Hour of Code.docx
Expanding Hour of Code.docx
To: Mayor Rahm Emanuel
Cc: Michael Negron, Kathryn O'Connell, Forrest Claypool
Date: October 28,2016
Re: Building On Hour of Code for Another Chicago innovation
Continuing the legacy of 'firsts' and innovation, - Chicago, the birthplace of the Computer Science for All movement
(albeit unrecognized) has a unique opportunity to leverage the Chicago City of Learning infrastructure and community to
assert our leadership and take the national Hour of Code initiative to a new level
Chicago City of Learning, in partnership with Chicago Public Schools, proposes that this December we launch a city-wide
campaign to engage youth and families in coding activities at school, in the community, and at home. Instead of the
Chicago community committing to an "hour" of code, the city will challenge youth and families to engage in "hours" of
code, all across the city and in every Chicago Public School.
We propose to launch the "Code60" campaign on December 1st, the Thursday before Computer Science Education week
(Dec 5-11) and to keep it going throughout the month of December and over the winter break- again, to show that
Chicago codes 24/7 and all across the city. Extending across winter break also highlights the ways in which youth and
families can keep learning going all year-round. On January 16th, the schools and individuals with highest number of
hours of code will be celebrated with prizes provided by partners like Microsoft, Google, and Best Buy,
Online and in-community opportunities to code will be presented on the Chicago City of Learning's "Code60" page,
providing youth, parents, and teachers with all the resources needed, in one place, to plug in to coding opportunities
offered all across the city. In-community opportunities will include offerings from CCOL partners, like Chicago Public
Schools, Adler Planetarium, and Blue 1647, as well as family activities hosted at CPS Parent University sites.
Chicago's "Code60" campaign will utilize a common Code60 digital badge, issued through Chicago City of Learning, and
powered by CPS Connects, to capture the hours of coding completed by youth and families. As badges are earned, a
dynamic city map will indicate the number of "hours" of code engaged in by school (including non-public schools).
Let's bring the Computer Science for All movement back to Chicago and show the country how our city-wide learning
ecosystem powers learning in innovative and coordinated ways.
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