High Tech High

Philadelphia - - The past two years has witnessed an escalating debate on the state of high schools around the nation. Alicia Mundy wrote in the Seattle Times that Bill Gates blasted the state of U.S. high schools in a speech before the National Governors Association education summit on February 27th. Gates has not chosen Philadelphia as one of the cities receiving money from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation which has committed more than $2.3 billion to education since 1999. Some $733 million of that money focuses on the small schools initiative, smaller, organic, learning communities with 200 - 400 students designed to replace the country's aging, massive, impersonal high schools.

Gates' prescence will still be felt here. A Philadelphia Inquirer article written by Susan Snyder reported that Gates will put up funding for what can be dubbed "High Tech High" a yet unnamed $46 million school with the latest technology - from interactive digital textbooks and computerized tablets to electronic play diagrams for the basketball team. The project will be a joint venture with the Philadelphia School District.

"We have the premier techological entrepreneur teaming with us - absolutely incredible," said James Nevels, chairman of the Philadelphia School Reform Commission.

The school is set to open in September of 2006.