Tech Valley High School
Encyclopedia
Tech Valley High School (or simply Tech Valley High or TVHS) is a four-year technical high school
located just east of Albany
, New York
, in the town of East Greenbush, in Rensselaer County
. It is unique in that it is not part of a single school district, but has its own board of education
, and offers a high school education that emphasizes math, science, and technology using project-based learning
to students across the Tech Valley
area of New York (hence its name).
The school opened in September 2007 and welcomed its first class of 40 students. Its first class graduated in June of 2011 on the campus of the University at Albany.
consortium school came about around or before 2003 according to former Supterintendent of Capital Region BOCES (Board of Cooperative Educational Services
), a regional entity serving multiple school districts, Barbara Nagler, and Superintendent of Questar III, James Baldwin. Former Governor George Pataki
signed a bill which established TVHS in November 2005. By November 2006, the board of education was named and given the tasks of creating a curriculum around project-based learning; working more closely with local businesses and places of higher education than typical public schools; and spreading the lessons learned on this new form of education to the component school districts of Capital Region BOCES and Questar III. Board of education members were selected from the boards of education of Capital Region BOCES and Questar III. Also in that month, the principal, Daniel Liebert, and director of institutional advancement, Raona Roy, were named. The school eventually opened in September 2007, leasing space from MapInfo
in the Rensselaer Technology Park in North Greenbush. In March 2009, it was announced that TVHS would be moving to a more permanent location on the East Campus of SUNY Albany, located in the town of East Greenbush. The school plans to rent out 20000 square feet (1,858.1 m²) of space at $450,000 per year.
, as is the case of almost all high schools in New York. Rather it is a consortium
high school available to any student from any of the component school districts of two Boards of Cooperative Educational Services
(BOCES) in New York's Capital District
: Capital Region BOCES and Questar III (Rensselaer-Columbia-Greene BOCES). Any student may apply during eighth grade
to attend Tech Valley High for their high school career. Currently, one student is chosen at random to represent each school in the two BOCES. With there being 47 component school districts, this accounts for a yearly class size of at or below 47. In the future, class sizes are expected to be between forty and eighty.
Students are not required to pay tuition to attend TVHS; the student's home school district pays its respective BOCES (Capital Region or Questar III, depending on location) tuition for the student to attend the school.
of the University of the State of New York
, under the direction of the Commissioner of Education and the New York State Education Department
. This includes requirements for students to take and pass Regents Examinations
. While in typical high schools, students are taught in classrooms with homework, examinations, projects, and note-taking, TVHS bases its curriculum on project-based learning in a high-tech setting.
TVHS fulfills its students' foreign language requirement by offering Mandarin Chinese
.
Even though students spend all four years of their high school career at TVHS, their diploma actually comes from their home school district.
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
located just east of Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, in the town of East Greenbush, in Rensselaer County
Rensselaer County, New York
Rensselaer County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 159,429. Its name is in honor of the family of Kiliaen van Rensselaer, the original Dutch owner of the land in the area. Its county seat is Troy...
. It is unique in that it is not part of a single school district, but has its own board of education
Board of education
A board of education or a school board or school committee is the title of the board of directors or board of trustees of a school, local school district or higher administrative level....
, and offers a high school education that emphasizes math, science, and technology using project-based learning
Project-based learning
Project-based learning, or PBL, is the use of in-depth and rigorous classroom projects to facilitate learning and assess student competence . Students use technology and inquiry to respond to a complex issue, problem or challenge...
to students across the Tech Valley
Tech Valley
Tech Valley is a marketing name for the eastern part of the US state of New York. It includes the Hudson Valley and Capital District, along with portions of the Mohawk Valley and North Country...
area of New York (hence its name).
The school opened in September 2007 and welcomed its first class of 40 students. Its first class graduated in June of 2011 on the campus of the University at Albany.
History
The idea for a high-techHigh tech
High tech is technology that is at the cutting edge: the most advanced technology currently available. It is often used in reference to micro-electronics, rather than other technologies. The adjective form is hyphenated: high-tech or high-technology...
consortium school came about around or before 2003 according to former Supterintendent of Capital Region BOCES (Board of Cooperative Educational Services
Board of Cooperative Educational Services
In 1948, the New York State Legislature created the Boards of Cooperative Educational Services to provide school districts with a program of shared educational services.-History:...
), a regional entity serving multiple school districts, Barbara Nagler, and Superintendent of Questar III, James Baldwin. Former Governor George Pataki
George Pataki
George Elmer Pataki is an American politician who was the 53rd Governor of New York. A member of the Republican Party, Pataki served three consecutive four-year terms from January 1, 1995 until December 31, 2006.- Early life :...
signed a bill which established TVHS in November 2005. By November 2006, the board of education was named and given the tasks of creating a curriculum around project-based learning; working more closely with local businesses and places of higher education than typical public schools; and spreading the lessons learned on this new form of education to the component school districts of Capital Region BOCES and Questar III. Board of education members were selected from the boards of education of Capital Region BOCES and Questar III. Also in that month, the principal, Daniel Liebert, and director of institutional advancement, Raona Roy, were named. The school eventually opened in September 2007, leasing space from MapInfo
MapInfo
MapInfo Corporation, initially incorporated as Navigational Technologies Incorporated, was a leading Location Intelligence and GIS company, headquartered in North Greenbush, New York. It was acquired on April 19, 2007 by Pitney Bowes, and on January 28, 2009, the name of division of Pitney Bowes it...
in the Rensselaer Technology Park in North Greenbush. In March 2009, it was announced that TVHS would be moving to a more permanent location on the East Campus of SUNY Albany, located in the town of East Greenbush. The school plans to rent out 20000 square feet (1,858.1 m²) of space at $450,000 per year.
Administration
Tech Valley High is not under the jurisdiction of one school districtSchool district
School districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:...
, as is the case of almost all high schools in New York. Rather it is a consortium
Consortium
A consortium is an association of two or more individuals, companies, organizations or governments with the objective of participating in a common activity or pooling their resources for achieving a common goal....
high school available to any student from any of the component school districts of two Boards of Cooperative Educational Services
Board of Cooperative Educational Services
In 1948, the New York State Legislature created the Boards of Cooperative Educational Services to provide school districts with a program of shared educational services.-History:...
(BOCES) in New York's Capital District
Capital District
New York's Capital District, also known as the Capital Region, is a region in upstate New York that generally refers to the four counties surrounding Albany, the capital of the state: Albany County, Schenectady County, Rensselaer County, and Saratoga County...
: Capital Region BOCES and Questar III (Rensselaer-Columbia-Greene BOCES). Any student may apply during eighth grade
Eighth grade
Eighth grade is a year of education in the United States, Canada, Australia and other nations. Students are usually 13 - 14 years old. The eighth grade is typically the final grade before high school, and the ninth grade of public and private education, following kindergarten and subsequent grades...
to attend Tech Valley High for their high school career. Currently, one student is chosen at random to represent each school in the two BOCES. With there being 47 component school districts, this accounts for a yearly class size of at or below 47. In the future, class sizes are expected to be between forty and eighty.
Students are not required to pay tuition to attend TVHS; the student's home school district pays its respective BOCES (Capital Region or Questar III, depending on location) tuition for the student to attend the school.
Curriculum
All public high schools in New York State are required to follow standards set forth by the Board of RegentsBoard of Regents
In the United States, a board often governs public institutions of higher education, which include both state universities and community colleges. In each US state, such boards may govern either the state university system, individual colleges and universities, or both. In general they operate as...
of the University of the State of New York
University of the State of New York
The University of the State of New York is the State of New York's governmental umbrella organization responsible for most institutions and people in any way connected with formal educational functions, public and private, in New York State...
, under the direction of the Commissioner of Education and the New York State Education Department
New York State Education Department
The New York State Education Department is the state education department in New York. It is part of the University of the State of New York , one of the most complete, interconnected systems of educational services in the United States...
. This includes requirements for students to take and pass Regents Examinations
Regents Examinations
Regents High School examinations, sometimes shortened to the Regents, are mandatory in New York State through the New York State Education Department, designed and administered under the authority of the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York...
. While in typical high schools, students are taught in classrooms with homework, examinations, projects, and note-taking, TVHS bases its curriculum on project-based learning in a high-tech setting.
TVHS fulfills its students' foreign language requirement by offering Mandarin Chinese
Standard Mandarin
Standard Chinese or Modern Standard Chinese, also known as Mandarin or Putonghua, is the official language of the People's Republic of China and Republic of China , and is one of the four official languages of Singapore....
.
Even though students spend all four years of their high school career at TVHS, their diploma actually comes from their home school district.
See also
- New York State Education DepartmentNew York State Education DepartmentThe New York State Education Department is the state education department in New York. It is part of the University of the State of New York , one of the most complete, interconnected systems of educational services in the United States...
- University of the State of New YorkUniversity of the State of New YorkThe University of the State of New York is the State of New York's governmental umbrella organization responsible for most institutions and people in any way connected with formal educational functions, public and private, in New York State...
- List of school districts in New York