KidsTek

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“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

Program Type

Hands on/Project-Based
Informal /Out of School
Work Readiness/Employment
College Readiness

Target Audience

Black/African American

Hispanic/Latino

English Language Learner

Low Socio-Economic Status

Location

Colorado

Grades

Pre-K - 5
Grades 6 - 8
Grades 9 - 12

 Accomplished link

Program 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.

 

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
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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.

 

How To Get Involved

We encourage corporate supporters to sponsor a High School elective program both financially and personally as guest speakers in our classes. It costs approximately $20,000 per year per class. Corporations and other organizations that can provide a three-year, $15K per year commitment will be provided with branding opportunities as well. Since we award laptops to all of our high school students who pass our classes with at least a “C” grade, donations of new or less than 3-year-old laptops are also welcomed.

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 & Assocites
  • FORTRUST Data Centers

Contacts

Richard Liner, Executive Director
Richard.Liner@kidstek.org

303-818-1474

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Design Principles

The programs in this database clear a high bar. STEMworks reviewed each program against the Design Principles for Effective STEM Philanthropy.

  • Accomplished
  • Developing
  • Undeveloped

Overarching Principles

  • Need

    Identify and target a compelling and well-defined need.

  • Evaluation

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

  • Sustainability

    Ensure work is sustainable.

  • Replication and Scalability

    Demonstrate replicability and scalability.

  • Partnerships

    Create high impact partnerships

  • Capacity

    Ensure organizational capacity to achieve goals.

STEM Principles

  • Challenging and Relevant Content

    Offer challenging and relevant STEM content for the target audience

  • STEM Practices

    Incorporate and encourage STEM practices.

  • Inspiration

    Inspire interest and engagement in STEM.

  • Under-Represented Groups

    Identify and address the needs of under-represented groups.