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DELL TECHKNOW EXPANDS TO ALL AUSTIN ISD MIDDLE SCHOOLS
Austin Partners in Education to Serve as Coordinator
AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 11, 2005 - To help close the technology gap, Dell and the Austin Independent School District (AISD) today announced the expansion of the Dell TechKnow program to all 17 middle schools in the district.
Austin Partners in Education (APIE) has been selected to serve as district coordinator for the expanded program, which is expected to graduate 600 students this academic year.
Dell TechKnow is a 40-hour, after-school program providing underserved middle school students with an opportunity to earn a home computer and learn technology skills that promote self-esteem, academic success and help prepare students for today’s technology-driven world.
“The Dell TechKnow program is one of the many ways our district is helping to get technology into the homes of underserved children,” said AISD Superintendent Dr. Pat Forgione. “Providing 21st-century skills and technology training can give students a better chance at succeeding in school while helping promote digital literacy within their families.”
Since the program’s launch in Austin in 2001, more than 450 students from 10 middle schools have participated. In North America, more than 7,200 students have graduated since the program’s inception four years ago, including 4,662 from 42 school districts during the last academic year -- a 50 percent increase from the previous year.
All students participants are from low-income or underserved populations with minority children representing more than 87 percent of graduates, and females comprising about 47 percent of graduates.
“This effort is a wonderful example of how partnerships between schools and businesses can have a positive outcome for students,” said Charles Barnett, board chair, APIE, and chief executive officer of the SETON Healthcare Network. “Collectively, we are transforming our students by providing a valuable program that supports student achievement and can help to produce lifelong learners able to succeed in an information society.”
Teachers from AISD serve as the instructors for the Dell TechKnow program, while the APIE staff works with each of those teachers and Dell to help ensure a quality experience for both the student and the district. Dell provides the teacher training, curriculum and refurbished systems for APIE to manage. In addition, more than 100 Dell employees have participated as volunteers in the classroom through APIE.
The program is a self-paced course in which students use a free refurbished Dell desktop computer and work in teams for hands-on learning of computer basics. Students learn how to take apart and rebuild a computer, install and use software, upgrade components and diagnose and fix basic hardware problems. Students also learn valuable skills such as teamwork, collaboration and communications.
Upon completion of the course, and if they meet attendance requirements, demonstrate good citizenship and sustain or improve their grades, students take home a refurbished Dell desktop computer loaded with Microsoft® software. Students receive one year of Internet access at no charge through a nationwide partnership with America Online or a variety of regional service providers. For more information, visit www.dell.com/k12/techknow.
About AISD
The Austin Independent School District serves 78,000 students on 107 campuses. AISD has a richly diverse student community, including children from all economic levels and all backgrounds. More than half of AISD students come from low-income families. Fifty-two percent are Hispanic, 31 percent are Anglo, 14 percent are African-American, and 3 percent are Asian. The district is committed to the success of all children by setting high expectations, focusing on continuous academic improvement and clearly defining principles of learning. While AISD’s progress is evident by its many accomplishments in student achievement, the district continues to face growing challenges. In order to meet these challenges, AISD has come to rely on partnerships with businesses and organizations that want to devote their time and resources to students. Corporate and community support have become critical pieces of the academic success puzzle. For more information, visit www.austinisd.org.
About Austin Partners in Education
Austin Partners in Education is a not-for-profit association that works to create and foster community-school partnerships that support and enrich student learning. APIE supports AISD students by providing and supporting programs to help students gain academic skills and self-confidence necessary for lifelong success. APIE programs are varied and include tutoring, mentoring, technological training and support, college preparedness and campus beautification. By serving as a point of contact for donors and volunteers, APIE works to provide community partners the best opportunities to invest in students’ potential for a future successful Austin labor market. APIE is working daily with schools and other education support groups to identify best practices, implement successful programs, qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate programs and marshal business resources to nurture and expand program success. For more information, visit www.austinpartners.org.
About Dell
Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) is a trusted and diversified information-technology supplier and partner, and sells a comprehensive portfolio of products and services directly to customers worldwide. Dell, recognized by Fortune magazine as America's most admired company and No. 3 globally, designs, builds and delivers innovative, tailored systems that provide customers with exceptional value. Company revenue for the last four quarters was $52.8 billion. For more information about Dell and its products and services, visit www.dell.com.
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