The MOUSE Squad of California (MSCA) Student Tech Leadership program, now in its 10th year, is a mature student technology program that empowers students in Grades 4-12 to learn 21st Century technology, leadership, and workplace skills, while participating in tech projects that serve the school community.
MSCA has grown from 5 Silicon Valley middle schools to now serve in 23 counties, 60 school districts, 105 sites and 3,250 students. The program’s success can be attributed, in large part, to the involvement of teachers and their knowledge of “what works” at grade level. The program can be implemented as an after-school program or an in-school elective, and often serves as a pathway to coding, computer science, and other technical careers.
The MSCA curriculum, projects, and activities are aligned with Common Core, Next Generation Science, National Education Technology, California Career Tech Education and Partnership for 21 Century Skills standards and frameworks. MOUSE Squads may be funded from sources such as STEM, After-School, Career Tech Ed, and Common Core, site or district magnet program allocations, local businesses, foundations, or service organizations, i.e. Lions Club or Rotary.
Mini Grants Available
Schools and agencies that apply by August 29, 2014 can implement a program in school year 2014 – 2015, and will have preference for a MSCA mini-grant and time to participate in the September/October 2014 Instructor/Coordinator trainings.
For more information about MSCA, fill out a contact form here or call Jan Half, Executive Director of California MOUSE Squad by phone at 408-712-5912 or email at jan@mousesquadca.org.