CS4Detroit Student Leadership Team (DSLT)

Context

While Detroit has seen increased investment in computer science (CS) education, many programs lack direct student input into their design, priorities, or impact metrics. The CS4Detroit Student Leadership Team (DSLT) was created to address that gap—training high school students as researchers, designers, and advocates for equity in CS education across Metro Detroit.

Challenge

Build a sustainable and meaningful structure for high school students to investigate systemic inequities in computer science education—then influence decision-makers using their findings.

In partnership with CS4Detroit, Beebe Arts LLC

  • Designed and facilitated DSLT’s inaugural cohort structure

  • Trained students in research ethics, interview design, data analysis, and storytelling

  • Guided youth through conducting interviews with educators, students, and community stakeholders

  • Created tools for data visualization and systems mapping, used in community presentations

  • Supported students in building action plans and presenting findings.

Program Highlights

  • Students developed original research questions about access, teacher bias, curriculum design, and representation in CS

  • Interviews were conducted with stakeholders from schools, nonprofit orgs, and tech institutions

  • Insights were synthesized into themes like “relevance of curriculum,” “peer stereotypes,” and “teacher encouragement as access”

  • Students presented their research and solutions at a citywide convening of educators, funders, and tech leaders

Results

  • 11 students trained in participatory research and systems thinking

  • 30+ interviews conducted across Detroit’s education and tech landscape

  • Youth-designed action plans focused on improving curriculum relevance, access to dual enrollment, and peer mentorship

  • CS4Detroit is now using DSLT findings to inform educator trainings and funding priorities

2023 - 2024 Research Findings

  • Overall Research Poster

  • Team 1 Poster

  • Team 2 Poster

  • Team 3 Poster

  • Team 4 Poster

2024 - 2025 Research Findings

  • Overall Research Poster Part 1

  • Overall Research Poster Part 2

  • Oral History Participant Summary

  • Oral History Participant Summary

  • Oral History Participant Summary

  • Oral History Participant Summary

  • Oral History Participant Summary

  • Oral History Participant Summary

  • Oral History Participant Summary

  • Oral History Participant Summary

  • Oral History Participant Summary

  • Oral History Participant Summary

  • Oral History Participant Summary

  • Lasting Impact

    The DSLT model is becoming a core part of CS4Detroit’s equity strategy. Students are no longer just beneficiaries of programming—they are co-creators of it. Beebe Arts is currently developing a toolkit based on this project to help other cities implement similar youth-centered research initiatives in education and tech.