High schools and local educational agencies are considering many factors as they develop program proposals for the Rural Tech Project. Whether new to technology education or very experienced, we know entrants may be looking for resources and support as they refine their program designs. We recently hosted a virtual panel series to hear expert advice on two critical topics.

Watch the recordings of our virtual panel series:

Community partnerships and coalition building

Experts from Ford Next Generation Learning and Pine Springs Preparatory Academy shared insights on a range of community engagement topics — covering how to build partnerships, gather community input, and secure support for new programs. They also addressed key questions from attendees, such as how to initiate partnerships in a remote environment.

Program design and implementation

Experts from Mastery Collaborative, Microsoft, Seattle Public Schools, Southwest Early College High School, and WhyMaker offered their advice on standing up and supporting technology education programs. They explored what entrants should consider as they choose the fields of study and models for their programs, including how to incorporate hands-on experiences in distance learning. They also shared recommendations for sourcing adaptable content, securing buy-in from administrators and parents, and planning for evaluation.

Browse more entrant resources

The Rural Tech Project has curated resources across topics to support entrants in creating comprehensive proposals. Entrants can browse reading and tools related to technology career pathways, program implementation, team development, and more. For answers to frequently asked questions, see the summary of questions and answers from the challenge information session. If you have additional questions, please contact us at hello@ruraltechproject.com.

Rural Tech Project proposals are due October 8: Create a profile and complete your submission.

See lessons learned and resources from the Rural Tech Project teams.

See lessons learned and resources from the Rural Tech Project teams.