About

The curriculum is FREE and always will be free because it is a gift from the tech industry to future generations and has robust, sustaining financial support. CompTIA Spark is the charitable arm of CompTIA, the world’s largest IT industry association and a leading provider of certifications for technology professionals.

To amplify impact, CompTIA Spark also develops mutually beneficial partnerships with organizations that align with our mission. This includes strategic partnerships and the pursuit of grants and additional funding opportunities. Learn about our current partners and supporters.

For over 20 years, CompTIA Spark has created new pathways and opportunities in technology to positively impact communities across the United States. 

CompTIA Spark was founded in 1998 by CompTIA, the world’s leading IT industry association. Previously known as Creating IT Futures, the organization relaunched as CompTIA Spark in 2022 with a singular focus — to engage middle school students with exciting, high-quality tech education. Its free, easy-to-implement curriculum aims to reach students during the critical years before high school while they are still open to learning new things and starting to explore career pathways — opening their eyes and minds to the exciting, rewarding opportunities in tech at a pivotal time in their development. 

The organization’s experience and success with a range of diverse programs over its many years of operations have helped to shape its current programming and approach.  

The former TechGirlz program demonstrated a successful “plug-and-play” model of out-of-school workshops on which its middle school technology curriculum is based. Its innovative content will now reach more young people — including more girls — in their classrooms, meeting students where they are to build vital tech skills, digital fluency, confidence and durable 21st Century skills.  

Previous CompTIA Spark programs geared toward helping a broad range of people enter the IT industry, including career-changers, veterans and recently incarcerated women, have helped the organization to identify and challenge deeply-held myths about who can succeed in tech roles — myths that are today tackled head-on with students, their educators and their caregivers to ensure all young people can see themselves and the opportunities in tech, regardless of their background or identity. 

CompTIA Spark couples extensive experience developing innovative, impactful programs with a clear vision of a future where all young people have access to life-changing technology education — and the opportunities it unlocks.   

OUR MISSION: To ignite young people’s interest, confidence and skills in technology. 

OUR VISION: Anyone with an interest in technology has the confidence & competence to pursue a tech career. 

OUR PURPOSE: We unlock young people's potential in technology.

This is why CompTIA Spark worked with educators to develop online curriculum specifically for middle school classrooms that can be facilitated by any teacher.