Empower Your Students Through Drone Technology
The Santa Cruz COE is proud to partner with the Drones Uplifting California Communities (DUCC) initiative — a cutting-edge Train-the-Trainer program led by UCSC’s CIDER and the Monterey Bay Tech Hub. This program supports underrepresented communities, offering online FAA exam prep, in-person flight training, and over six months of curriculum development support. This 8 week hybrid program provides educators receive a $1,600 stipend and reimbursement for the $175 FAA test fee, while students gain access to mentorship and career pathways in the rapidly growing drone industry. Educators will meet once (or twice) a week with a cohort of peers in a hybrid environment.
what's the program about?
This 8-week hybrid program supports underrepresented communities by providing:
- Online FAA Part 107 Prep
- In-Person Drone Flight Training
- 6+ Months of Curriculum Development Support
Community of practice to support Drones in Education
- Reimbursement of $175 FAA test fee
- Weekly hybrid meetings with a peer cohort
- Access to student mentorship and career pathways
Why Start a Drone Program at Your School?
- Prepares students for high-wage, high-growth careers
- Meets the demand for FAA-licensed drone pilots
- Builds STEM skills and real-world technical expertise
- Opens doors to industries like agriculture, cinematography, public safety & more
- Student entrepreneurship support via the MBTH Drone Business
- Mentorship Program
Program Details
Meetings will start 10/2 from 4-5:30 and conclude on 11/20
- Asynchronous FAA Test Prep
- Self-paced online learning: short videos, quizzes & practice exams
- Hands-On Flight Training
- 2–3 days of practical, in-person drone piloting experience
- Ongoing Support
- 6+ months of guidance to develop and implement your classroom drone curriculum
Additional Benefits:
- $1,600 stipend per teacher (2 teachers per school)
- FAA test fee reimbursement
- Open to all educators!
Limited Space available! Submit application by 9/5!
Registration form will be ready soon.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to bring cutting-edge drone education to your students.