Catalyst partners with the Seattle School District (SSD) to provide schools with on site technical support. This partnership promotes effective uses of technology by placing a college student in a Seattle K-12 school to provide computer networking and desktop support services.

Program Details

Program goals include the following:

• Provide Seattle's K-12 schools with network support and computer consulting at an affordable cost.
• Create opportunities for UW undergraduates to develop computing, networking, and consulting skills through practical experience.
• Help teachers incorporate technology into curricula for all K-12 students.

UW students contract with the Seattle K-12 schools to work approximately 10 hours per week for the duration of the academic year. These students build and maintain individual school servers, networks, and file and print services. They work with teachers to incorporate the use of computers into classroom experience, help design curricula, teach software workshops, and keep the school computers and networks operational.

Background

In January 2000, Catalyst launched the partnership with the Seattle School District (SSD). During the 2000 pilot, seven schools enrolled in the program. Within the year, we were serving over thirty schools. 100% of the schools and 75% of the students involved in the program in 2000 renewed with the program the following year. The remaining students graduated.