BCPS Launches New Program Aimed At Helping Students Find A Career In Artificial Intelligence

BALTIMORE COUNTY - Months after blocking access to the popular AI program, ChatGPT on school networks, BCPS has announced a new artificial intelligence career and technical education program to prepare students for an AI future.

The program, officially titled Computer and Information Sciences Artificial Intelligence, will be available to students at the George Washington Carver Center for Arts & Technology, Sollers Point Technical High School, and Western School of Technology and Environmental Science.

“This new artificial intelligence program is an exciting and relevant addition to the diverse academic opportunities we provide for our students,” BCPS Superintendent Dr. Darryl L. Williams said. “I applaud Mr. Handy and Dr. Grubbs on their successful efforts to bring this program to BCPS. I also thank our business and higher education partners for contributing to the development of a program that will prepare our students for high-demand careers.”

The program will consist of four sequential courses: Artificial Intelligence 1, Advanced Placement Computer Science A, Artificial Intelligence 2, and Artificial Intelligence Capstone. The capstone will be optional and allow students to engage in on-the-job learning.

Students will learn to understand and program bots to perform tasks throughout the four classes. Thanks to a $150,000 grant from the Maryland State Department of Education, students will have access to robotic dogs that they will learn to program.

According to Dr. Michael Grubbs, current CTE coordinator for BCPS, these classes will prepare students for the future labor market.

“Labor market data from the Maryland Workforce Exchange indicates a bright outlook in Baltimore County for positions that rely on artificial intelligence, such as software developers and computer systems engineers,” Grubbs said. “Our Artificial Intelligence Program will be offered as a magnet program of study to balance out the computer science programs that will be in every high school. Adding AI ensures that computer science is available to all students in BCPS."