Introduction

Welcome to the High School/High Tech Program!

The National High School/High Tech Program is pleased to offer you its implementation Guide as a resource for planning, establishing, building, and managing a High School/High Tech project in your community.

A travel guidebook of any type is only as effective as the results that come from following it—the quality of the journey and the final destination. That seems an appropriate analogy for a manual designed to assist you in leading the development and successful implementation of your High School/High Tech project. This is a journey that will be unique for everyone involved, whether project staff, educators, counselors, youth, employers, parents, or other interested individuals. Bon Voyage and best wishes!

Purpose and Overview of the Guide

This guide was developed with input from representatives of more than 60 project sites located throughout the U.S. These representatives included seasoned veterans of High School/High Tech, those who have a few years under their belts, and others brand new to the project. The consensus of this diverse group was clear: this guide should be PRACTICAL above all else. Project representatives wanted a resource that would give important tips on everything from start-up activities to locating funding sources. They also requested ideas for establishing dynamic partnerships with a wide range of companies in which technology is either the primary product or is integral to that organization's operations. Therefore, the guide is short on narrative—and long on tips!

There was unanimous opinion that the guide should have a section containing sample forms, letters, agreements, press releases, and so forth. Consequently, Appendix II includes samples and templates for creating documents critical to program operations. With the exception of forms required by the High School/High Tech National Office, most of the samples are meant to provide a starting point for customizing your own documents. In fact, we fully expect that you will greatly improve upon all of the samples!

How High School/High Tech Evolved

In 1983, the High School/High Tech Program was created by a task force of executives from high tech companies and others in Los Angeles. These executives agreed that finding qualified employees able to handle high tech jobs was a top priority. They also acknowledged that people with disabilities have proven to be loyal, highly productive, and dependable employees. Finally, they recognized that the relatively minor costs of adapting the work place for workers with disabilities is a good investment in human resources.

When the task force members looked at the pool of eligible workers with disabilities, however, they discovered that few had the education and training to qualify for high tech jobs. They realized that in order to build a technologically trained work force that included people with disabilities, their companies would have to reach out to students at an early stage in their education. With leadership by the Atlantic Richfield Company and the support of the Los Angeles Unified School District, America's first intervention program designed specifically to promote training for science and technology jobs among young people with disabilities was established.

Shortly thereafter, the program was adopted by the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities. In October 2000, Congress created the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) in the U. S. Department of Labor, and all programs of the former President's Committee were integrated into the new agency. ODEP now coordinates the national High School High Tech initiative.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has also been a major supporter of High School/High Tech since 1985 and currently is directly involved in several projects, six of which have close working relationships with NASA facilities.

Mission of the High School/High Tech Program

High School/High Tech is an enrichment program for high school students with disabilities. It is designed to develop career opportunities and provide activities that will spark an interest in high technology fields, and to encourage students to pursue higher education. High School/High Tech programs have been established in numerous sites across the country. (Please refer to the appendix for a list of sites.)

The High School/High Tech Program, as an intervention, represents a response to a number of factors occurring simultaneously in the U.S.:

• The booming global and technology-driven economy:
  Faster than can be imagined, the world of technology (cyber, bio, medical, solar, nuclear, electronics) is evolving. In turn, the face of industry and the workplace is continually changing, requiring that workers of today and tomorrow possess a new set of skills if they are to participate in this high tech-dominated economy. Ever increasing numbers of workers with science, mathematics, and other technological expertise are needed.
• Employer skill expectations for the 21st Century:
  Murnane and Levy (from their book The New Basic Skills, 1996) surveyed employers from around the country to determine what they thought were the essential skills needed if youth of today were to enter careers that would have advancement potential and lead to a high standard of living. These include: reading, mathematics, science, problem-solving, teamwork, computer knowledge, communication, and work values.
• The changing demographics of the workforce:
  As the economy continues to grow, the number of young adults entering the workplace is shrinking. This means that employers will be vying for talent. Those young adults who have the best skills will be in the enviable position of taking their pick of numerous job offers.
• Employment statistics for people with disabilities—an overlooked talent pool:
  As of the year 2000, the employment rates for people with disabilities continue to lag far behind the rates for citizens without disabilities. When statistics are analyzed further, people with disabilities are woefully underrepresented in science, mathematics, and other technical fields, and in management and executive positions.
• National Standards movement in education and other school reform efforts:
  Schools nationwide have been struggling to improve their outcomes by examining their current processes and making significant changes in the way they educate children and youth. Stiffer academic standards have been identified in most states, with more rigid requirements for school promotion and graduation in place.
• School-to-Careers initiatives:
  The National School to Work Opportunities Act was enacted to encourage school systems to correlate directly school learning with the demands of new millennium careers. The Act addresses the real concern that our educational systems use antiquated methodologies and that students and teachers cannot see the connection between what is taught/learned in school and the skills needed in the fast paced high technology, high communication, high abstract world of the 21st century global economy.

The High School/High Tech model was created as a vehicle to help address all of these issues.

What is High School/High Tech?

It is a program that aims to:

• motivate students to explore their own interests and potential in the sciences, mathematics, and technology fields;
• encourage those interested in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology-related careers to aim for college and a degree in their chosen field;
• provide students with appropriate career planning, including counseling on colleges, and degree programs;
• help professionals in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology-related fields to understand better the uses of assistive technology and the accommodations and facility-access needs of persons with disabilities, and
• provide employers with a new resource for qualified workers.

What are the primary features of High School/High Tech?

While each local site may have a different configuration of activities, the program incorporates a mix of learning experiences, including:

• employment—paid summer employment and internship opportunities that provide on-the-job experiences in high tech environments;
• corporate site visits—to laboratories, manufacturing plants, as well as high tech offices and facilities;
• mentoring—professionals in high tech fields serving as career advisors to students;
• job shadowing—students spending time observing professionals at work, and
• workshops and training—featuring career exploration, resume development, career planning, specialized computer training, and job search skills instruction.

Join the National High School/High Tech Program

The High School/High Tech Program represents a growing network of individuals, organizations, companies, and agencies that are committed to unlocking doors and creating opportunity for students with disabilities. Joining the High School/High Tech Program network provides you with access to resources across the country that you can use to build your program. At the same time, you too bring resources to the High School/High Tech Program, and we encourage you to share your ideas with other High School/High Tech Program coordinators, sponsors, and students.

Getting Started

Here are some first steps if you are just joining the Program:

• Contact the National Program Office and ask the National Program Manager to recommend others in the field whom you may contact. There are many different types of High School/High Tech Programs, and the National Program Manager will have a sense of which programs are good resources for you.
• Join the High School/High Tech Program's electronic community. The National Program Manager will submit your name to the High School/High Tech electronic networks so that you can start to make the Web-based resources offered by the National Program Office work for you.
• Check out the National Program's Website and local program Websites. There is a wealth of information about the program on the Internet. Also, we encourage you to design your own Web page to promote your local program.
• Visit other High School/High Tech sites. Many new program operators have had invaluable learning experiences from making trips to other program sites. More seasoned High School/High Tech Program operators can supply you with new ideas, provide you with materials, and, of course, let you know about any growing pains they have experienced.

Florida or Blast? The Project Director and School Board Administrator from the Tech Now Oklahoma High School/High Tech Project traveled to Florida to learn about all the exciting things going on there. They met with Florida's High School/High Tech Program Director, toured summer internship sites, spoke to mentors, met with NASA staff, and toured Space Camp. The Oklahoma visitors had an unforgettable experience and, as a result, Oklahoma's Tech Now students will be attending Space Camp!

• Find out if there are any National High School/High Tech Training Conferences coming up or any special events you can attend. The National High School/High Tech Office hosts training conferences for new coordinators. Attending a national training conference is a great way to plug into the High School/High Tech Program network.
• Learn about other programs sponsored by the National Program Office that can support your local program. There are many other programs at the national level that are designed to promote the employment of people with disabilities.

Working with the National High School/High Tech Program Office

The National Program Office is well-established, and affiliation with it provides your program with instant recognition. We invite you to use our logo and materials to get the word out about your program. We also encourage you to adapt our materials to suit your local needs. In this manual, we have included tips for working with the National Program Office to promote your program. We have also included sample materials from local programs, including brochures, newsletters, and invitations.

The National High School/High Program Office is here to help you achieve your goals.

What can the National Program Office do for you?

• The National Program Office can supply you with the national logo, videos, brochures, and folders that you can use to promote your program.
• You can work with the National Program Manager to develop community contacts and foster relationships with important program stakeholders.
• Many High School/High Tech Program Coordinators call upon the National Program Office for general letters of support* that can be used to leverage buy-in.
• The National Program Office staff has knowledge of many federal and state funding programs and can help you develop strategies for securing support.
• You can invite staff from the National Program Office to attend key stakeholder meetings or speak at events. In the event that National Program Office representatives are not available for an event or activity, they can usually identify someone from the community who can join you. Either way, it never hurts to ask!

*Note: The National Program Office is able to write letters of general support for you. You may use them appropriately. It is not appropriate for the National Program Office to influence directly a federal, state, or local level grant process by writing specific letters of support.

Sample Text from a Letter Welcoming a New Site to the National Program

June 23, XXXX Ms. XYZ ZZZZ Executive Director ABC Foundation 1111 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90036 Dear Ms. ZZZZ: We would like to welcome you to the High School/High Tech program. Thank you for your commitment to starting the High School/High Tech program in Los Angeles. We are particularly excited about working with you to develop ways in which high school students with disabilities can explore careers in the technical aspects of the entertainment industry. This represents a program first for us! One main element of the High School/High Tech program is exposure. Students participating in your program will learn first-hand what it is like to work in the entertainment industry. Site visits, mentoring, shadowing, and paid summer internships all provide students with opportunities to learn more about technical careers. Through collaboration with the Los Angeles County Office of Education, students will also be encouraged to develop career goals and to take the academic preparation necessary to achieve their goals. Enabling students to work in a dynamic environment, see mentors at work, and plan a course for the future is the way we envision the Los Angeles High School/High Tech program's mission. At the national level, we are committed to providing you with technical assistance, access to other successful program materials and activities, and letters of support. We will assist you in locating resources and organizations that will contribute to the growth of your High School/High Tech program. National Program staff are available to attend, in person and via conference calls, planning meetings, kick-off events and stakeholder meetings to help you promote your local program. We will invite your new site coordinator to attend our National High School/High Tech Training Conference in the winter of 2001. You are also invited to use our materials to promote your program. As your program grows, we would like general information about the status of the program as well as the number of students involved in your program, the activities in which they participate, and the companies and organizations that are involved with your High School/High Tech students. We are in the process of developing new program evaluation materials that will outline specific information and assist you with the process. You will receive the evaluation materials early next year. In addition, monitoring successes is an important element in the continual improvement of the High School/High Tech program. We ask that you assist us in this process by providing information as requested by our staff. We would also appreciate any evaluations of the program which you might conduct. We are very excited about the prospects of working closely with you. Expanding participation in the High School/High Tech program is a very high priority to us—both to enhance disability awareness of individuals throughout the world and also to supply high school students with disabilities opportunities in high tech fields. Please contact [..................] if you have any questions. Sincerely, XXX Executive Director National Program Office

Sample Text from a Letter of Support from the National Office

May 12, XXXX Ms. XXXX High School/High Tech Program Director XYZ Organization 1111 Sherman Street Denver, CO 80203 We are very enthusiastic about your effort to establish the High School/High Tech Program in Colorado. We are impressed with the Colorado Business Leadership Network (BLN) that you have in place, and are confident that you will establish a thriving High School/High Tech Program. At the National Office, we encourage the integration of our programs at the state level. We are certain that your BLN membership will serve as a great resource for High School/High Tech. Also, by implementing a High School/High Tech Program in Colorado, you are helping us toward our goal of establishing the Program in every state in the country. Currently, there are over 60 active sites in 16 states. Your program is the first in Colorado. As a community-based program, each site represents a wealth of opportunity in the area. We know you have access to powerful partners in your community. We look forward to working with you and thank you for all that you have done to support the employment of individuals with disabilities. Please contact.... if you need further assistance. Sincerely, XXXX Executive Director National Program Office

National Program Office Goals and Requirements

As we work together to provide exciting opportunities for students with disabilities to pursue careers in science and technology, there are some things you should keep in mind. High School/High Tech serves over 1,000 students a year. Each student in a High School/High Tech Program should have the opportunity to participate in the following activities.

• Paid Employment Experiences
• Corporate Site Visits
• Mentoring
• Job Shadowing
• Workshops and Training

High School/High Tech programs should also encourage students to accomplish the following:

• Identify interest and potential skill in the sciences and technology;
• Engage in appropriate career planning, including counseling on course work and post-secondary education and training, and
• Understand assistive technologies and accommodations needed to optimize productivity in both school and work.

We recognize that not all High School/High Tech Program participants will engage in every activity we have outlined. It is important for us to know in which program elements your students are participating and the comprehensiveness of your program.

As a new program operator, you may wish to start out small. In the first year, you may decide to serve 5-10 students and offer them all the program components. As you grow, you can expand the program and include more students each year. You may also chose to offer students in your area a few of the program components. For example, some new sites choose to focus on site visits, mentoring and building career awareness in the first year. Starting out small is a sound strategy. It provides you with an opportunity to build awareness about your program and lay the groundwork for growth.

Program Highlights

At the National level, we have witnessed some incredible accomplishments. High School/High Tech Programs across the country are realizing the potential of the program and are teaching us new things everyday.

For example, High School/High Tech students in Albany, GA, taught us that the sky is no longer the limit, with the Butterflies in Space Experiment.

Butterflies in Space Researchers at SPACEHAB (www.spacehab.com), BioServe Space Technologies and the Center for Micro Gravity Automation Technology, worked closely with the High School/High Tech students and teachers from Albany, GA, to create scientific experiments for the STS-93 Space Shuttle Mission. The students and researchers designed an experiment to learn what effects, if any, zero gravity has on the metamorphosis of a butterfly. The Albany, GA, school completed a simulation run prior to launch and participated in the actual loading of insects into the flight hardware. After setting up the Earth-based control experiment that was compared to the orbiting payload experiment, the students traveled to the Kennedy Space Center to view the night launch (the STS-93 launch was delayed and the students did not witness the actual launch which took place 2 days later.) The real-time results of the experiment were down-linked to the Internet for release to schools worldwide. On May 4, 2000, the Albany, GA, students were honored at the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum, at the Space Day 2000 event, where it was announced that the butterflies that hatched in the space experiment would be on permanent exhibit at the Air and Space Museum. Former astronauts John Glenn and Sally Ride were on-hand to recognize the accomplishments of the Albany, GA, students.

Because of the Butterflies in Space activities, we have witnessed incredible enthusiasm and support from major Georgia High School/High Tech stakeholders. Georgia High School/High Tech employers are deeply committed to the Program and have volunteered to assist the National Office in any way possible. Georgia's Superintendent of Schools is also a strong advocate for the High School/High Tech Program.

In Florida, post secondary education is a major program priority. By design, community college representatives are included in the Florida High School/High Tech Program planning and development processes. The strategy seems to work; most of Florida's High School/High Tech seniors pursue post secondary education.

August XXXX ABC YYYY Project Director Florida High School/High Tech 1111 N. Cocoa Blvd. Cocoa, FL 32927 Dear Ms. YYYY: Brevard Community College supports the career and academic development of students with disabilities in the fields of science, engineering and technology through the High School/High Tech Program. This program supports the college mission to provide accessible, affordable, high-quality post-secondary education that prepares students to enter the job market; transfer to senior universities; meet civic responsibilities; or assist them in achieving their professional and personal goals. Brevard Community College will welcome the first graduates of the High School/High Tech Program in the Fall XXXX semester, and we look forward to their contributions to the college community. Likewise, Brevard Community College will help further the High School/High Tech Program by continuing to encourage and support students with disabilities to explore the career fields of science, engineering, and technology. Currently, Brevard Community College has made available campus facilities for meetings, workshops, tours, and services of the Office for Students with Disabilities to the High School/High Tech Program. The college will continue to make available these resources and will strive to accommodate the needs of these students where appropriate. In addition to the existing college support for students, career search and placement services are available from the Job Link Centers conveniently located on or near the campuses. We look forward to hosting the first High School/High Tech graduates as they embark on their college education. Please let us know how we can enhance their education experience. Sincerely, XXX XXXX District President

Students in the Pittsburgh, PA, High School/High Tech Program participate yearly in the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics Competition. FIRST immerses high school students in the world of engineering by teaming students and engineers from industry and academia together to design and construct a "champion robot." Supported by major corporations, the Tech Link student team received first place at the 1999 Mid-Atlantic Regional Competition and 12th place at the 1999 FIRST National Championships. Tech Link students traveled to Walt Disney World's Epcot Center in Orlando, FL, to compete nationally.

In Cleveland, OH, students participate in several site visits during the school year. Cleveland-area High School/High Tech students are clearly one step closer to identifying and defining their career goals and interests after visiting all of these exciting places: WENZ-FM 107.9 Topic: Radio Station Production and Programming. Students toured Cleveland's Alternative Rock radio station. They learned how changing technology affects the operation of a radio station. EDR/Beachwood Studios Topic: Audio and Video Production. Students learned what producing radio and TV commercials involves. Bureau of Criminal Investigations Topic: Forensic Science. Students toured the crime investigation lab and learned about the chemistry, biology, physics, and psychology used to solve crimes. Rockefeller Park Greenhouse Topic: Horticulture. While visiting Cleveland's flower gardens, students participated in hands-on activities that taught them how plants propagate and what it takes to create city gardens. Boeing Aerospace and Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory Topic: Aerospace Design. Students learned about the science and technology used by engineers to build equipment for space shuttles and the space station. National Weather Service Center Topic: Meteorology. Students worked with meteorologists to learn about the computers and instruments used to predict weather. Museum of Health and Medical Science Topic: Human Body. Students toured the human body through life-sized exhibits and watched a human organ dissection. NASA Johnson Space Center Topic: Space Travel. Touring mock-ups of the space shuttle and international space station, students learned about aeronautics and space travel. Genesis, Inc. Topic: Introduction to Aquaculture. A 40,000 square foot indoor facility with hatcheries, nurseries, and a fresh water purging tank gave students insight into how Genesis, Inc. breeds and grows prize winning fish for international sale and distribution. Direct Design Topic: Graphic Design. Visiting the designers of NFL, Bass Pro, and other labels gave students a sense of how clothing lines are created and finished.

Paid summer work experiences round out the High School/High Tech year. High School/High Tech students have worked as computer software developers, market research specialists, aircraft assemblers, veterinary assistants, web developers, computer hardware technicians, market researchers, graphic designers, laboratory assistants, editors, and network engineers.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Bentley Manufacturing	Intermec/Norand
Big Behr Design	LiveWare 5
Brain Engineering	Manpower
Crest Information Technologies	MCI
Direct Design	Metamor, ITS
Entre Information Systems	MSI Mold Builders
Executive Construction	Norwest Banks
Genesis	Parsons Technology
Grant Wood AEA	Performance Concepts REACT Center
Howard R. Green	Primus Construction
Blacksburg, VA
Concept Software Corporation	Phoenix Integration Inc.
Crop Tech Development Corp.	Recognition Research Inc.
Durability Inc.	The Virginia Tech Cave
Interactive Design & Development, Inc.	Virginia Tech Library Service, Inc.
National Weather Service
Fairfax County, VA
American Management Systems Inc.	Logistics Management Institute
Collins International Service Company	Marriott Corporation
Computer Systems Development Corp.	Meridian One Corporation
Dewberry & Davis	Navy Federal Credit Union
EG&G Dynatrend	Riggs National Bank
Fairfax County Consolidated	Rite Aid
Gannett Offsett Prinitng Services	The Orkand Corporation
Herndon Web Services	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Prince George's & Montgomery Counties, MD
Advanced Technology Research Corp.	Hughes Applied Information Systems
Adventist Health Care	Litton-Amecon Division
Bechtel Foundation	Lockheed Martin Missions Systems
The Boeing Company	Loral Aerosystems
The Boeing Company - Eng. Service	NSI Technology Services Coporation
Computer Data Systems, Inc.	Ogden Logistics Services
CTA Incorporated	Unisys
Bibb County, GA
Boeing Company	Georgia Music Hall of Fame
Bibb County Board of Education	Macon Technical Institute
City of Macon	Mayor's Commission on Disability Issues
Disability Connections	Middle Georgia Consortium
DRS
Albany-Dougherty County, GA
Albany Herald	Dougherty School System
Albany State University	FOX31 TV
Albany Technical Institute	Palmyra Medical Center
Albany Transit Service	PEPSI-Buffalo Rock
Cellofoil	Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital
Darton College	WALV TV
San Jose, CA
Adobe Systems	IBM
Advanced Micro Devices	Silicon Graphics
CoSine Communications	Software Development Forum
Hewlett-Packard	Studio FX

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