DRITA is a three-year program, with participants beginning their involvement in 9th grade and continuing through the summer before their 12th grade year. DRITA students will participate in both school-year and summer activities. Each participant in DRITA will accumulate almost 500 contact hours over their three years of involvement with the program. The DRITA student “experience” will encompass coursework, internships, and college/career exploration and counseling. In all cases, content will be delivered in a way that allows students to immediately use their knowledge in experiential and exploratory ways.                                   

Coursework
During their ninth-grade year, participants will complete a basic information technology (IT) skills orientation. Basic IT Skills (BITS) & Basic IT Skills + (BITS+) is a 40-hour introduction to IT course that is held on five Saturdays during the winter and spring. The course covers Computer Fundamentals, Intro to Digital Media, Intro to Networking, Intro to Web Design, and Intro to Programming. Please click here to view the BITS/BITS+ curriculum!

Participants in the ninth grade, if needed, will also receive tutoring assistance to complete Algebra I. Tutoring can be accessed by students in a variety of ways. Some may participate in Learning Liftoff, a community math literacy program developed by the IALR. Others may attend tutoring sessions sponsored by the Danville Church-Based Tutorial Program, a DRITA partner. Other tutoring arrangements may be developed based on the individual needs of students.

Over the next three summers, participants will complete courses in areas such as programming, animation, virtual environment modeling, advanced networking, Geographic Information Systems, robotics, and gaming design.

Internships
Each student will complete two internships. Internship placements will include science research labs (both academic and commercial), educational institutions, and/or local companies. Each internship will be 70 hours. Participants will also receive a $500 scholarship credit for each internship, which will be paid directly to the college or university that the student enrolls at following high school graduation.   
  
College and Career Exploration                                                                           
College preparation and career planning will occur throughout the three years in the program. This includes: college/career counseling sessions, college tours, and PSAT/SAT preparation programs. The college/career counselor will also be available by appointment to families on an individual basis.

During each summer of their involvement, all DRITA participants will attend "Tech Expo." This event will simulate a professional conference/trade show and will include workshops on emerging technologies.

Family Involvement                                                                                                
Family involvement is an integral part of the program. A parent, guardian, or other committed adult must agree to attend: annual informational meetings, technology workshops, college tours, and Super Saturday. Super Saturday is a local day-long financial aid event that includes informational workshops and hands-on assistance with filling out FAFSA paperwork required to receive financial aid for college.
                                            
*Parent, guardian, or other committed adult will be required to sign release forms for the student to participate in DRITA activities.