MIDWAY, FL - Microsoft along with Children's Home Society of Florida is helping those kids in need learn about technology and help them transition in adulthood.
Talking about the Tech Success Program this morning on Sunrise are Cyndy Loomis and James Taylor.
Children's Home Society has launched Tech Success under a grant provided by Microsoft.
It is a statewide program operated by CHS.
The purpose of Tech Success is to get students interested in technology so that we can grow our local IT talent pool and reduce our reliance on importing IT labor.
In 2016, the US approved 85,000 H-1B visas for foreign workers to reduce the demand for IT jobs.
The target population is students 14 to 21 in disadvantage areas.
Tech Success contains four online programs: Computer Literacy, PowerPoint, Excel, and Word.
Students can take the courses anytime, anywhere.
Students earn points for each course they complete. They can use the points for incentives such as a tablet, headphones, backpacks, restaurant coupons.
In the Big Bend area, Tech Success is led by a Leadership Council comprised of staff from three IT companies: ISF, Accenture, and Mainline.
The Leadership Council works with existing student organizations in town: Jack McLean Teen Center, Palmer Monroe Teen Center, Godby High School 21st Century Program, Big Brothers Big Sisters.
The goal is to have 125 students complete the Tech Success program this year. They have 21 completers and 67 students enrolled so far.
Once students complete the course the program helps to bridge the gap to what they can do next:
o Florida Virtual School, High School Courses
o Career Source, Dynamic Futures
o TCC
o FSU
o FAMU
The Leadership Council is also responsible for raising $250 per student to help defray the cost of the incentives.
Donations: https://www.chsfl.org/techsuccess
