STEMworks

KidsTek

Impact

Our goal is to reach more than 1000 unduplicated students per year over the next five years, while adding 10 additional after school programs for elementary and middle-school aged children and 10 additional in-school high school elective classes. KidsTek has a 15 year track record of measurable results relating to workforce readiness and college preparedness for under-served youth in Colorado.

  • Target Audience
    • Low Socio-Economic Status
    • Hispanic/Latino
    • Black/African American
    • English Language Learner
  • Program Type
    • Hands-on/Project-Based
    • Work Readiness/Employment
    • College Readiness
    • Informal/Out of School
  • Location
    • Colorado
  • Grade Level
    • K
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5
    • 6
    • 7
    • 8
    • 9
    • 10
    • 11
    • 12

Contact

Accomplished Program has been evaluated and meets the Design Principles for quality.

  • Need Accomplished
  • Evaluation Accomplished
  • Sustainability Accomplished
  • Replication & Scalability Developing
  • Partnerships Accomplished
  • Capacity Developing
  • Challenging & Relevant Content Accomplished
  • STEM Practices Accomplished
  • Inspiration Accomplished
  • Under-Represented Groups Developing

See full results

This class has helped me outside of the classroom… my cousin asked me if I could help him set up his business. He knew that because of the KidsTek Networking class I would know how to set up his computer and printer and could make sure everything was connected and configured properly.”

Edmundo Gomez

12th grade, Martin Luther King, Jr. Early College, Denver

Design Principles

The programs in this database clear a high bar. STEMworks reviewed each program against the Design Principles for Effective STEM Philanthropy. Programs must be Accomplished (accomplished) across all Design Principles, or be Developing (developing) in a maximum of three areas.

Overarching Principles

  • Need Accomplished

    Identify and target a compelling and well-defined need.

  • Evaluation Accomplished

    Use rigorous evaluation to continuously measure and inform progress towards the compelling need identified.

  • Sustainability Accomplished

    Ensure work is sustainable.

  • Replication & Scalability Developing

    Demonstrate replicability and scalability.

  • Partnerships Accomplished

    Create high impact partnerships.

  • Capacity Developing

    Ensure organizational capacity to achieve goals.

STEM Principles

  • Challenging & Relevant Content Accomplished

    Offer challenging and relevant STEM content for the target audience.

  • STEM Practices Accomplished

    Incorporate and encourage STEM practices.

  • Inspiration Accomplished

    Inspire interest and engagement in STEM.

  • Under-Represented Groups Developing

    Identify and address the needs of under-represented groups.

Program Overview

KidsTek is dedicated to increasing the technology literacy of Colorado’s under-served K-12 students through project-based after-school technology education programs in K-8 schools and in-school technical certification programs that provide college credit in high schools. KidsTek is a a 501 (c)(3) organization that provides students the technical foundation that has become necessary in education and the workforce today. Our K-8 programs emphasize and develop skills around Internet Research and Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) that are invaluable technology skills for any professional career. Our High School programs include Introduction to Computing, Introduction to Networking, NET+, Introduction to Programming, and Business Computing. All of these courses are concurrent-enrollment courses with the community college system and provide opportunities for several industry recognized certifications, including the IC3 Digital Literacy certification and NET+. The Business Computing course provides opportunities for Microsoft Office Specialist certifications and features weekly visits from industry leaders and entrepreneurs, to strengthen the students’ industry knowledge and confidence in entering the workforce and/or college. KidsTek also provides its students with field trips to local high-tech business and works with local Colleges and Universities for student visits and panel discussions around the value of a post-secondary education.

Funders and Partners

Anschutz Foundation, Daniels Fund, COMCAST, City of Aurora – COMPASS Program, Xcel Energy Foundation, Denver Active 20-30 Children’s Foundation, Adolf Coors Foundation, SIM Colorado (Society for Information Management), KPMG, Swiftpage, HEIN & Associates, FORTRUST Data Centers