WeTeach_CS Summit 2026

Many K–12 students, including those with disabilities or impacted by restrictive learning environments, face barriers to effective digital learning. Limited access, rigid technology policies, inflexible instructional design, and emerging AI tools can either widen or reduce these gaps. In this interactive session, participants explore how accessibility, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and responsible AI use intersect in K–12 classrooms. Through real-world scenarios, collaboration, and reflection, attendees examine how accessible and AI-supported technologies can personalize learning, reduce barriers, and strengthen student agency while navigating school policies. Participants leave with practical tools to design future-ready learning experiences.

Rural Texas schools serve a significant and diverse student population, yet they remain largely underrepresented in the expansion of K-12 AI and computer science education. This session draws on a panel of Texas educators and partners that are deeply engaged with this work as well as emerging national and Texas-specific research to examine the structural and narrative barriers that limit access in rural communities.

Panelists will explore how the unique challenges and a lack of qualified CS educators compound to create persistent gaps in rural schools. The session will also challenge deficit-based narratives by spotlighting the innovation already happening in rural Texas classrooms — innovation that too often goes unrecognized and under-resourced.

Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of the policy levers and community assets that can drive sustainable progress, including place-based partnerships and strategies for amplifying rural voices in the AI and CS education conversation. This session is designed for teachers, administrators, district leaders, university partners, and policymakers who are committed to building CS pathways for every student, including those in the smallest and most geographically isolated schools in Texas.