What Computer Science Teachers Association does

Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) is a Chicago-based nonprofit membership organization founded in 2015 (per company history; firmographics records 2004) that serves as the recognized standards-setting authority for K-12 computer science education in the United States. CSTA develops and publishes the CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards and the Standards for CS Teachers, runs the Computer Science Honor Society (CSHS) program across more than 200 active high school chapters, and maintains a global community of 20,000+ K-12 CS educators through paid individual membership ($50/year), a free account tier, 200+ local chapters spanning at least seven countries, and 20 identity- and topic-based affinity groups.

CSTA's product surface is content- and community-led rather than technology-led. Core offerings include a 1,600+ item Resources Library, 1,400+ recorded conference and summit sessions, the CSTA Voice blog (586+ articles), fellowship programs (IMPACT Fellowship, Responsible AI Fellowship, Mentors in CS), professional development programs (Professional Learning Series, Inquiry Groups, AI PD Weeks), and member-only benefits including a dedicated Pluralsight channel and discounts on classroom tools from partners such as Chibitronics, Wonder Workshop, and Sphero. CSTA also co-manages the CSTA/ACM Cutler-Bell Prize in High School Computing (backed by a $1 million endowment) and runs the CS Teaching Excellence Award sponsored by Infosys Foundation USA.

The business model combines individual membership dues, three-tier institutional partnerships (Amazon Future Engineer, Microsoft, Google, ACM, Infosys Foundation USA), government grants (notably an $11M NSF award in March 2026 for AI PD Weeks across nine states), and conference/event revenue from the annual CSTA conference (next: New Orleans, July 13–15, 2026). Membership is community-led growth: Amazon Future Engineer sponsors free CSTA memberships for Title I school teachers, and CSTA's collective membership reaches over 1.3M K-12 students. The organization operates without venture capital or private equity backing and is governed by a Board of Directors under Executive Director Jake Baskin.

Name

Computer Science Teachers Association

Legal name

Computer Science Teachers Association

Website

https://csteachers.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) is a Chicago-based nonprofit membership organization serving 20,000+ K-12 computer science educators worldwide through standards, professional development, local chapters, affinity groups, and the Computer Science Honor Society program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Education Association

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Text-Based Programming (Python, Java, C/C++) (EDAMACAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Online/Distance Education Quality & Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAK)

Keywords

• K-12 computer science education
• Computer science standards
• Teacher professional development
• CS curriculum frameworks
• Education membership association

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues of $50 per individual generate the primary revenue stream. Membership includes access to resources, discounts on partner products, professional development, chapter access, and the annual conference.
2. Institutional Partnerships: Corporate partners (Amazon Future Engineer, Microsoft, Google, and others) provide sponsorship, grants, and co-programming. These partnerships fund awards (e.g., Infosys Foundation USA funds the CS Teaching Excellence Award) and enable member benefits like discounted access to third-party tools.
3. Government Grants: CSTA receives federal funding, including an $11 million NSF award for AI teacher training across nine states over two years. Grants support program delivery and expand reach to new teachers.
4. Conference and Event Revenue: The annual CSTA conference (July 2026 in New Orleans) and other events generate revenue through registration fees and sponsor exhibit fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

CSTA is a membership-based professional association that delivers standards, professional development, advocacy, and community for K-12 computer science educators. Its $50/year individual membership unlocks access to the Resources Library (1,642+ items), recorded conference and summit sessions, virtual community, local chapters, and discounts on partner teaching tools. The organization publishes the recognized CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards and Standards for CS Teachers, runs the Computer Science Honor Society (200+ chapters), and operates fellowship and professional development programs including IMPACT, Responsible AI, Professional Learning Series, and AI PD Weeks.

Product overview

Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) offers a comprehensive membership-based platform for K-12 computer science educators. The core offering is CSTA Membership ($50/year), which provides access to professional development, the CSTA Virtual Community, local chapters network, and member discounts. CSTA delivers professional development through multiple programs including the Annual Conference, Professional Learning Series (PLS), IMPACT Fellowship, Responsible AI Fellowship, Mentors in CS, Inquiry Groups, and AI PD Weeks. Standards publications include CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards and Standards for CS Teachers. Additional programs include the Computer Science Honor Society (CSHS) with 200+ chapters, CS Teaching Excellence Award, and CSTA/ACM Cutler-Bell Prize. CSTA Voice serves as the content platform with 586+ articles, while the Resources Library provides 1,600+ resources for members. CSTA also published AI Learning Priorities for All K-12 Students in partnership with AI4K12, establishing foundational AI education guidelines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CSTA Membership Annual individual membership ($50/year) providing access to the Resources Library (1,642+ items), recorded conference and summit sessions, virtual community, local chapter network, Professional Learning Series, fellowship opportunities, and discounts on partner teaching tools (Pluralsight, Chibitronics, Wonder Workshop, Sphero). Free and sponsored memberships are available.
• CSTA Annual Conference Flagship annual in-person conference bringing together thousands of K-12 CS teachers for networking, professional development sessions, and awards. Generates revenue through registration fees and sponsor exhibit fees; content feeds the on-demand recorded sessions library.
• CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards Foundational learning objectives for a complete K-12 computer science curriculum, covering Computing Systems, Networks and the Internet, Data and Analysis, Algorithms and Programming, and Impacts of Computing. Referenced by state policymakers, schools of education, and accreditation bodies.
• Standards for CS Teachers Standards providing guidance around effective and equitable CS instruction for all K-12 students, covering CS Knowledge, Equity & Inclusion, Professional Growth, Instructional Design, and Classroom Practice. Complementary to the K-12 CS Framework and CSTA K-12 Standards.
• Computer Science Honor Society (CSHS) National program enabling high schools to cultivate local Computer Science Honor Societies supporting student enthusiasm, academic excellence, and service. More than 200 active local chapters nationally, completing over 20,000 service hours.
• IMPACT Fellowship Year-long leadership development fellowship focusing on creating Inclusive, Meaningful, and Powerful Approaches to Computing Teaching (IMPACT) for CS educators.
• Responsible AI Fellowship Fellowship developing ethical, inclusive, and transformative approaches to artificial intelligence education for K-12 teachers. Second cohort announced May 2026.
• Mentors in CS Year-long, equity-focused peer mentoring program matching experienced CS educators (5+ years) with teachers new to CS.
• Professional Learning Series (PLS) Ongoing year-round professional development series supporting teachers' professional learning and improving quality of K-12 CS teaching.
• AI PD Weeks (Artificial Intelligence Professional Development Weeks) Professional development program providing hands-on learning, collaboration, and practical strategies for teaching artificial intelligence in K-12 classrooms. Funded by an $11 million NSF award and connected to the federal executive order on AI education.
• Inquiry Groups Selective, semester-long program combining asynchronous online PD with facilitated monthly or bi-monthly community of practice sessions.
• CSTA Resources Library Digital library containing over 1,642 resources including slides, videos, PD materials, lesson plans, and research documents for CSTA members, covering all grade levels and teacher standards.
• AI Learning Priorities for All K-12 Students Foundational AI learning outcomes organized by grade band across five categories: Humans and AI, Representation and Reasoning, Machine Learning, Ethical AI System Design and Programming, and Societal Impacts of AI. Developed in partnership with AI4K12.
• CSforEL Program aimed at attracting, retaining, and engaging English learners in AP Computer Science Principles across Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Southern California.
• Utah CS Equity Cohort Selected cohort of forty Utah teachers developing knowledge and ability to address inequities in CS education.
• CSTA Voice Blog and commentary platform for K-12 computer science education issues featuring articles from educators and fellows on topics including Artificial Intelligence, CSEquity, Classroom Resources, CSTA Fellowships, and Professional Development.
• CSTA Chapters Local chapter network connecting CSTA members at state and regional levels across North America and internationally (Canada, India, Japan, Nigeria, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Singapore). Led by volunteer chapter leaders and reaching 3,500+ educators annually.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3,500 educators reached annually through CSTA Chapter events
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Pluralsight OnemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 December 2025Pluralsight One partnered with CSTA and Code.org to offer discounted access to its platform for nonprofits and support STEM education for K-12 students and teachers. CSTA members receive a special members-only Pluralsight channel as a benefit.
• Code.orgmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 December 2025Pluralsight One's partnership with CSTA includes Code.org, providing $1.5 million grant to Code.org over three years to expand opportunities for girls and students of color. CSTA and Code.org collaborate on CS education advocacy and standards.
• Amazon Future EngineermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmazon Future Engineer sponsors free CSTA membership and provides curricular resources for teachers at Title I schools. This partnership lowers barriers to membership and supports equitable CS education access.
• MicrosoftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMicrosoft is listed as a strategic partner of CSTA, working together to advance computer science education. Details of specific programs are not fully disclosed.
• GooglecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoogle is listed as a strategic partner of CSTA, collaborating on CS education initiatives. Details of specific programs are not fully disclosed.
• Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACM co-sponsors the CSTA/ACM Cutler-Bell Prize in High School Computing with a $1 million endowment. ACM also collaborated on the K-12 CS Framework and standards development, and CSTA publishes content through ACM channels.
• Infosys Foundation USAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInfosys Foundation USA is the sponsor of the CS Teaching Excellence Award, which honors educators who inspire students and engage underrepresented groups. They provide the funding for this recognition program.
• AI4K12coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSTA partnered with AI4K12 on the 'Identifying AI Priorities for All K-12 Students' project to articulate AI learning priorities within CS. This partnership informs the CSTA standards revision for 2026, specifically incorporating AI outcomes.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Emerging players

• AI4K12: AI4K12 is a joint AAAI/CSTA initiative developing national guidelines for AI education in K-12. It is a direct CSTA partner on AI Learning Priorities but also an emerging voice in AI standards that could shift influence away from CSTA in the AI sub-domain.
• CSforALL: CSforALL is a national hub for the CS education movement, convening nonprofits, districts, and funders around K-12 CS access. It overlaps with CSTA's advocacy and equity mission and competes for influence on CS education policy and partnerships.
• Common Sense Education: Common Sense Education is a nonprofit providing K-12 digital citizenship, media literacy, and EdTech resources to schools and teachers. It overlaps with CSTA on professional development for K-12 educators and is increasingly active in AI literacy curriculum.

Direct peers

• Code.org: Code.org is a leading nonprofit advancing K-12 computer science education through curriculum, teacher PD, and advocacy. It directly overlaps with CSTA on teacher training, CS standards influence, and equity-focused K-12 programming, and is an active CSTA partner.
• International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE): ISTE is a major nonprofit membership organization serving educators using technology, including K-12 CS/computing teachers. It co-developed Standards for CS Teachers with CSTA and overlaps heavily on PD, advocacy, and standards for K-12 CS/computing educators.

Broad incumbents

• National Science Teaching Association (NSTA): NSTA is the largest U.S. professional organization for science educators, analogous to CSTA but for science. It serves as a useful comparator on membership model, chapter structure, advocacy, and PD programming for K-12 STEM teachers.
• National Education Association (NEA): NEA is the largest U.S. labor union and professional association for educators. It represents a broader K-12 teacher base and engages in CS/AI policy advocacy that intersects with CSTA's standards and advocacy work.
• National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM): NCTM is a large K-12 subject-matter professional association with a comparable model: standards-setting, membership, chapters, conferences, and PD for math teachers. It benchmarks CSTA's association economics and standards influence.
• Association for Computing Machinery (ACM): ACM is the largest international professional society for computing, covering higher education, research, and K-12 pathways. It co-sponsors the CSTA/ACM Cutler-Bell Prize and the K-12 CS Framework, and competes for influence over CS education standards and teacher recognition.

Others

• Pluralsight (Pluralsight One): Pluralsight One is the social impact arm of Pluralsight, providing technology skills training access to educators and nonprofits. It is a current CSTA partner offering member benefits but operates a for-profit platform model that competes indirectly for teacher training dollars.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/csteachersorg
• Facebookfacebook.com/computer-science-teachers-association-54105645655
• Instagraminstagram.com/csteachersorg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/computer-science-teachers-association-csta-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors3 records

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Computer Science Teachers Association