IdeaSpark Coding Club

IdeaSpark Coding Clubs are Bold Idea's main program offering that runs during the academic school year. In IdeaSpark Coding Clubs, students work alongside mentors to earn badges and move along their learning paths . Coding Clubs are hosted either at DISD school sites, online or at community locations.

What are Coding Clubs

Coding Clubs are Bold Idea's academic year programs. The run for 28 weeks between September and May of each year with 14 weeks during the fall semester and 14 weeks during the spring semester. Sessions are 1 1/2 to 2 hours long and meet once a week at a designated time and location (either at a school, community location, or online.

Each Coding Club is grouped by age level and location. The intention behind the coding club structure is that students will re-enroll in the same club each year - allowing for clubs to grow together in their computer science skills and interests. Coding Clubs are not specific to any course or curriculum. Students in each club are working through curriculum and projects at a self-paced rate and move along designated learning paths based on their interests and projects they have previously earned badges for.

Two Types of Coding Clubs

In-School Clubs:

These clubs are located at neighborhood schools across the Dallas Independent School district as an official after-school program offering. These clubs are only open to students who attend the school at which it is hosted. A teacher oversees this club in collaboration with mentors from the club's corporate partner/sponsor. In-school clubs are offered at no cost to the school or students enrolled.

Community Clubs:

These coding clubs are hosted either online or at community locations (companies, community centers, etc.) and open to any student. The online community clubs are open to any student or mentor located across the United States. Community located clubs are open to any students or mentors who are able to travel to that location for the meeting time on a weekly basis. Community clubs are sponsored by multiple different companies that provide volunteer mentors for the clubs. Community clubs are offered at a cost of $400 for the whole year (28 weeks). Bold Idea offers financial aid to students who cannot afford to pay the fee. There is also a laptop donation program for students who do not have access to the technology necessary for participation in the club. Any Dallas ISD student who does not have access to an in-school club that wishes to join a community club will be eligible for a tuition waiver.

Coding Club Schedule

Coding Clubs regardless of the type of club follow a basic school year calendar. Bold Idea models the standard club calendar after the DISD school year calendar each year in relation to breaks. If a community club is located in a different school district and all students attend schools that follow a different schedule, mentors are welcome to work with Bold Idea staff to adjust the club's schedule when needed. Each club starts in September after the Labor Day holiday and runs until mid-December with a break for the Thanksgiving Holidays. After a winter break, the clubs begin the first week of February and run until mid-May with a spring break that corresponds with the DISD calendar each year.

How to Register for a Club

Parents can register their student(s) for clubs using the Bold Idea Parent Portal . Or if they cannot access an online form Bold Idea provides all schools with paper forms for registration. If you want to attend a community club and need a paper registration form please reach out to Bold Idea.