Tech Valley High School - Frequently Asked Questions

Learning Environment & Curriculum at Tech Valley High School

How does Tech Valley High School differ from other schools?
It is a project-based learning environment that emphasizes an integrated math and science curriculum and focuses on preparing students with the skills to support the region’s emerging technologies (biotechnology, nanotechnology, advanced materials, alternative energies and information technology). It features continual access to state-of-the-art learning technologies. The curriculum is rigorous, relevant, integrated, active and engaging – and will ideally serve as a model locally and nationally. It provides a wide range of opportunities to observe and participate in actual business work environments. It is being created and sustained in partnership with K-12 educators, business, higher education, organized labor and government. These partnerships provide enriched student experience in preparing for living, learning and working in the 21st century.

What is project-based learning?
Project-based learning brings together intellectual inquiry, rigorous real-world standards and student engagement in relevant and meaningful work that is central to students’ understanding of the essential concepts and principals of the discipline. Many schools offer project-based learning experience for their students, but Tech Valley High School is unique because students are thoroughly immersed in it.

One very exciting, and unusual, aspect is Tech Valley High School’s unprecedented partnerships with leaders from area businesses, technology companies, higher education, organized labor and government. They were involved in shaping the school, continue to be participants and collaborators in the educational program and are helping develop the project-based learning experiences, in cooperation with educators.

Why project-based learning?
The best starting point for learning is with real, genuine issues of importance to students and communities. Active, concrete experience, driven by the “need to know,” is the most powerful form of learning. Adolescents learn best when they encounter intriguing topics and people in real-world situations, and when they are faced with genuine challenges, choices and responsibility for their own learning. Thus at the heart of Tech Valley High School’s course of study are real, rich and complex ideas and materials that involve learning 21st century skills.

How is the curriculum for Tech Valley High School being developed?
A Learning Team was convened and, with the principal and chief academic officer of Tech Valley High School, is responsible for setting the direction for designing, developing and coordinating all processes involved in building and making operational the curriculum for Tech Valley High School.

This includes the focus on project-based learning and on preparing students with the skills needed to support the new and emerging technologies in Tech Valley. This team also focuses on, and sets the direction for, ensuring the professional development of the teachers delivering the new project-based curriculum. The team, now chaired by Nancy Andress, assistant superintendent for instruction at Guilderland Central School District, includes teachers, students and administrators as well as area leaders from higher education, business, technology, organized labor and government. In addition, as a replication site for the New Technology Foundation, the school has access to the NTH Learning System^tm and extensive training in integrated curriculum development. The curriculum meets or exceeds the New York State learning standards, and students will earn a Regents Diploma or Advanced Regents Diploma.

Is the academic environment rigorous?
Yes. Student retention of their learning increases as they have opportunities to work on complex problems beyond repetition and review. Project-based learning offers students multiple opportunities to apply learning in new situations where the answer is not obvious – where students are confronted with challenges that have no clear answers, where they must solve unforeseen problems and meet unpredicted obstacles. Project-based learning requires teachers to cover fewer topics at greater depth with the goal of developing a deep understanding of subject matter that scientists and technology companies in Tech Valley say is needed in our high school graduates. Learning at Tech Valley High School requires students to master the subject matter necessary for traditional Regents exams, but also requires students to develop the skills needed to meet the rigorous requirements of working in a technology rich, intellectually complex and personally challenging world.

Do students earn a Regents Diploma?
Yes. Students must take Regents exams and will receive a Regents Diploma or Advanced Regents Diploma from their home district with an endorsement from Tech Valley High School, much the same way diplomas are granted for students participating in Career and Technical Education programs or the New Visions program. Tech Valley High School students will meet all New York State learning requirements.

What school name appears on a student’s diploma?
Students receive a Regents Diploma or Advanced Regents Diploma from their home district with an endorsement from Tech Valley High School. Students from current Capital Region BOCES and Questar III Career and Technical Education programs and the New Visions program receive diplomas with similar endorsements.

Do students have the opportunity to earn college credits?
Yes. In fact, earning college credits is a requirement at Tech Valley High School. Articulation agreements continue to be developed with the colleges and universities throughout Tech Valley.

Are all students encouraged to attend college?
Students are provided with opportunities that give them a wide range of post-secondary choices. Because Tech Valley High School serves a broad range of students, students are encouraged to pursue the academic and/or career path that best fits their needs and desires. Because of the innovative partnerships with business and higher education that are woven into the Tech Valley High School experience, students are exposed to a full range of post-high school options including college, apprenticeship programs and job opportunities with area businesses.

Will colleges accept the endorsement from Tech Valley High School?
Yes. Students from current Capital Region BOCES and Questar III Career and Technical Education programs and the New Visions program receive diplomas with similar endorsements and are accepted at prestigious colleges and universities throughout the United States.

Are art and music offered?
New York State requires that students complete one credit in fine arts (art or music) for graduation. Students are exposed to fine arts at the school through integrated project-based learning experiences. There is no band, choir or orchestra, at least for the first several years. Students may pursue their interest in these areas through cultural resources available throughout the region.

Where does technology fit in?
It plays an important role in teaching and learning. Students learn both with –and from –technology. There is a 1:1 student-to-networked-computer ratio. Emerging technologies serve as both teaching tools and subjects for development of projects.

How do students meet their physical education requirement?
Physical education is integrated into the school week by utilizing local physical fitness facilities, under the constant and coordinated supervision of certified teachers.

Are there sports and extra-curricular activities?
Extra-curricular activities are determined by students to support the curriculum and respond to their interests. There are no interscholastic sports teams, and the school schedule makes it difficult to participate in after-school interscholastic sports. Although students are eligible to participate on their district teams, transportation can be an obstacle.

What if a student requires extra assistance to pass a course?
Academic intervention services are provided to all students who require them, just as they would be at their home school district.

What support services are offered (nurse, counselors, academic intervention, special education) and who pays for these services?
All of the above services are provided. If there are related service costs for a special education student, the home district is responsible for those costs, as is the case for other BOCES programs.

Are lunch/breakfast available? Is there cafeteria service?
Students will have an opportunity to purchase both breakfast and lunch at the school for the 2008-09 school year.