College Board Officially Launches the First Nivel Avanzado Program (PNA®) Course in Computer Science Principles

College Board LATAM, in partnership with Puerto Rico’s Department of Education (DEPR), the private education sector, and local university institutions, celebrated today the launch event for the first Computer Science Principles course under the Nivel Avanzado Program.

The course, offered by Puerto Rico’s public and private schools, is designed to help high school students discover the power of this discipline through challenging concepts, problem-solving, collaboration, and the practice of computational thinking.

According to Pablo Martínez, vice president of College Board LATAM: “For many young people, access to enriching learning experiences is a decisive factor in choosing a professional path with greater opportunities in today’s economy, and the Computer Science Principles course offers exactly that: the ability to consider options that previously might not have been considered.”

Most jobs today require the use of information technology systems, and this discipline combines technical rigor with creativity and interdisciplinary thinking. In fact, the Computer Science Principles course is not intended to be offered exclusively to those pursuing a career in technology: the concepts it teaches—including algorithms, problem-solving, and data management—apply to any field of study, from the arts to agriculture to medicine, giving every student a solid foundation for whichever path they choose to pursue.

The launch event took place at the Parque de las Ciencias in Bayamón, with the participation of more than 500 public and private school students from all regions of the Island. Throughout the day, students visited various interactive stations where they learned about the testimonials of notable women in computer science, explored applied computer science university projects, took part in a university fair, and enjoyed coding challenges and gamified activities.

The event brought together students, teachers, representatives from universities, industry, and nonprofit organizations, as well as special guests including the secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of Education and the executive director of the Association of Private Schools of Puerto Rico.

With the launch of the Computer Science Principles course, College Board reaffirms its commitment to continuing to open educational doors for students in Puerto Rico.

About College Board LATAM
College Board is a nonprofit organization with a history of more than 120 years. Its mission is to clear a path for all students to own their future. The Latin America division supports public and private institutions in over 11 countries. It is responsible for making standardized tests available to the Spanish-speaking market. For more information about College Board LATAM and its programs, you can visit: latam.collegeboard.org/

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