• Mission Statement
• History
• The Technology Gap

KidsTek works closely with Colorado youth (ages K-12) service providers in underserved communities to provide the keys to successful technology education

Getting computers into classrooms or after-school centers is only the first step; supporting a technology-learning environment is at the heart of overcoming the technology gap. That type of training costs money, but it's money well spent.

Mission Statement

History

KidsTek has been providing technological training for children in our community since the year 2000, when it was founded by by several of Colorado's leading technology executives. KidsTek enhances our communities and develops the future technology workforce through opportunity and perspective-broadening experiences for underserved youth.

Through its first non-profit service provider partnership, the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Denver, KdsTek established a successful technology program for kids, ages K-12, that is now a model for national Boys & Girls Clubs and new KidsTek partners. KidsTek was awarded the 2004 National Technology Activity Award by Boys & Girls Clubs of America for integrating technology into their core programs.

Initially, the focus was to provide computers, software and connectivity for youth at risk. Over time, it became evident that KidsTek needed a replicable model so it could quickly move into new sites with trained staff and a curriculum that would keep youth engaged and focused. This was one of the core objectives in 2006 and 2007, and has made a tremendous difference in KidsTek's ability to reach more students. With a strong replicable program in place, quality and long-term impact are now the primary issues. KidsTek continues to strive to reach new schools each year while maintaining the integrity of its model.

In 2008, KidsTek reached a record 1,249 students, many of whom are continuing their involvement in KidsTek during 2009. This year it plans to serve approximately 1,300 boys and girls.

The Technology Gap

Every day we see how being a part of the technology industry can literally change a person's life. Unfortunately, those benefits are not available to all of Colorado's citizens - specifically Colorado's at-risk kids. There is a measurable technology gap, both in terms of access to technology and adequate training and utilization of technological tools.

In 2004, KidsTek, in collaboration with the University of Denver's Colorado Community-Based ResearchNetwork (http://www.ccbrn.org/) wrote a research study of the technology gap in Colorado - and its ramifications for kids.

Click to view the study's Executive Summary.  

Addressing The Technology Gap

When KidsTek was founded 4 years ago, the major issue was technology access. At the time simply having the hardware, software and connectivity was the major issue. What we have learned over the past three years through our partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs (BGCMD) and through our initial market research efforts is that having the physical assets is just a part of the overall solution. Also required is the technical expertise to keep the computers running, a curriculum to keep the kids focused, supervision, tutoring and mentoring from adults, management of the center and its resources, an understanding of related market forces and the assessment and measurement of the results. Our initial research has found that while many funders have invested in the hardware and connectivity for technology and youth, service providers continue to lack sufficient resources to develop or sustain the programs that will have the impact we seek, including long-term scholastic and job-readiness.

KidsTeks vision is to be the leader in the State of Colorado in understanding and addressing the technology gap for kids. To support that goal, we focus on the following core strategies: Research & Assessment, Corporate Engagement and KidsTek. KidsTek is the expansion of our current technology education program for kids. This program integrates our knowledge of the technology gap for kids K-12, our current program success factors, and our assets as an organization. KidsTek, through its partnerships with Colorado youth service organizations and educational institutions will integrate the following identified success factors: Technical Resources, Curriculum, Supervision/Staff Development, Mentoring and Assessment.