SVVSD collaborating in Colorado's Quantum Tech Hub initiative
Oct. 30—As part of Colorado's Quantum Tech Hub, a federal grant initiative, St. Vrain Valley Schools is joining a larger group developing middle and high school quantum technology curriculum.
The state's quantum tech hub designation is expected to unlock federal investments, including new educational resources for St. Vrain students as the district integrates quantum technology into its classes. The district also will host an annual Elevate Quantum meeting at its Innovation Center in Longmont.
Altogether, more than 70 partners — school districts, community colleges and universities, businesses, federal labs, and state and local governments — are participating in the first phase of the initiative, according to St. Vrain officials.
"It really is an amazing collaboration," said Joe McBreen, St. Vrain's assistant superintendent of innovation. "I'm so excited to begin this work."
Colorado was designated as an official technology and innovation hub for the quantum industry earlier this month, opening up tens of millions of dollars in funding and elevating the region's profile as a leader in the field.
The state was chosen as a tech hub under the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. The act makes $500 million available initially with $10 billion authorized for 20 regional hubs.
The Boulder-Denver area has been a center of research in quantum technology and a pipeline for companies for decades. Quantum computing is seen as taking computing to a new level by using the physics of quantum physics to solve more complex statistical problems faster.
The hub will focus on developing the use of quantum computing, quantum sensing, quantum networking and quantum hardware technologies and moving those applications from lab to market, according to officials. The technology can help speed up discoveries of drugs and sources of critical minerals, as well as enhance space-based navigation systems and observation satellites.
McBreen said he was most surprised to learn that it's estimated that almost half of quantum jobs won't require advanced degrees. Along with research scientists, he said, the field will need machinists, solder technicians, welders and other similar technicians.
"People in the business sector and the information technology sector are forecasting that the quantum informational ecosystem will be the next big thing in our economy," he said. "It's an opportunity we get to participate in and actually lead."
Boulder Valley School District officials also see the potential for the quantum tech hub designation to increase opportunities for students. The designation comes as the district is expanding its career and technical education programs and work based learning options.
"We are very excited to be able to include quantum technology education so our students can be part of this really exciting work," said Bianca Gallegos, Boulder Valley's executive director of strategic partnerships.
The district will use money from its $350 million capital construction bond issue to add space for more career and technical education classes at middle and high schools. The bond issue, which was approved by voters in November, also includes money for renovations at the Boulder Technical Education Center.
As the Boulder Technical Education Center community begins to discuss how it wants to expand existing programs and add new ones, quantum technology will be part of the discussion, said Arlie Huffman, Boulder Valley director of career and college connections.
He said the district wants to give students an opportunity to learn skills that will be needed to participate in the quantum industry through an advanced manufacturing pathway. Boulder High also is offering a computer science class that offers an introduction to quantum computing and what's needed to work on the computer science side of the industry.
"We want to be one of the entry points to the quantum industry," Huffman said.
The Denver Post contributed to this report.
