In the summer of 2009, someone in my homeschool group forwarded an email announcing an educational program that was about to be launched in Utah. This technology based program, called Hi-Tech High, planned to offer a $1,000 scholarship and free laptop to the first 50 homeschooled students (ages 10-18) that enrolled. My son, who was 14 at the time, was very interested, so we hopped right on it. I think we were probably one of the first people to sign-up! Hi-Tech High is the brain child of Matt Bowman, who works at Novell, a hi-tech software company in Provo, UT. Together with a group of parents, Matt founded Hi-Tech High with the goal of increasing the educational resources available to Utah youth. The group's long term goal was to ensure that Utah would have one of the most tech-savvy workforces in the world.
So in the Fall of 2009, Hi-Tech High was launched with 200 students. Homeschoolers from all across Utah were able to enroll in such technology classes as:
- Computer Basics
- Game Design
- Website Design
- Digital Photography & Graphic Design
While Hi-Tech High could have launched it's program as a private education option, the board felt that this technology-based program should be accessible to all homeschoolers. As such, Hi-Tech High is partnered with two UT Charter Schools, Gateway Prepatory Academy and the American Leadership Academy, and is considered a "Virtual Charter School Program". They are funded by the same tax dollars that are used to support other schools in Utah.
Homeschoolers enrolled in the Hi-Tech High program take all their classes tuition-free and even receive a technology bonus to purchase equipment to assist them with their studies. Last year, my eldest son upgraded his personal computer, while my younger son purchased a digital camera.
Of all the classes my kids have taken with Hi-Tech High, I'd have to say the Robotics class was one of their favorites. While everyone in my family has always been big Lego fans, exploring the world of Lego Mindstorms was out of our price range. So when the Robotics class was offered last year, my oldest son thought he had died and gone to heaven! This technology class exceeded expectations. My son had an absolute blast learning all the ins and outs of making his Lego Robot (who bore a striking resemblance to WALL-E) zip across our kitchen floor. Even our two dachshunds got into the action, charging at the robot because they thought an alien invasion had taken place.
Hi-Tech High is an incredible opportunity for homeschoolers in Utah and plans are now underway to expand into Arizona, California and perhaps even Idaho, Nevada, and Colorado, in the near future. In addition, Matt Bowman and his team, have discovered that homeschoolers of "all ages" (not just high/middle schoolers) have a keen interest in technology, so they are looking at providing educational resources for younger kids (the 9 and under crowd).
Whether you live in Utah or a neighboring state, I encourage you to check out Hi-Tech High to see if it's a good fit for your family. For those of you in other states, you might want to consider building a program like this in your state. Afterall, Hi-Tech High was created from the vision of a few parents banding together with the shared goal of offering kids additional educational resources. If they could do it... you could too.
To learn more about the history and vision of this pioneering program, I invite you to listen to my recent phone interview with Matt Bowman, the founder of Hi-Tech High:
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