This project funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF Award #1837577) initiated the formation of a researcher-practitioner partnership (RPP) to articulate preK-14 pathways that expanded opportunities for all students to develop spatial and computational (i.e., geo-computational) thinking skills. The pilot RPP is composed of geographers, computer science educators, and geospatial technology specialists experienced in serving underrepresented minority students and communities.

Under the coordination of the American Association of Geographers (AAG), exploratory research was conducted to inform educational standards and tested approaches to help institutions understand the capacity they need to modernize geography education and to broaden the participation of underrepresented minorities in geo-computational curriculum. Building capacity for inclusive pathways in computational geography will increase the potential of all students to contribute to the national innovative ecosystem. This project provides other regions or states the foundational knowledge to design, develop, and implement a strategy to modernize their pathways to computationally-intensive jobs and college majors.