Integem
Tech Leadership
Program

The $599 annual program is for existing Integem students, including current students and alumni. It brings together fall AI project development, spring community outreach, and summer teaching assistant experiences. Students receive 10 fall and 10 spring live online classes, guided activities, feedback, presentation and portfolio guidance, and Congressional Award planning and application support when eligible. Summer TA timing is coordinated separately.

Prefer one term? Fall-only tuition is $499, and spring-only tuition is $499. The annual option is $599 for all three seasons.

Parents who choose to pursue the Congressional Award pay its one-time $35 registration fee directly to the Award. Paid AI subscriptions are optional and not required; families who choose them cover subscription, token, API, and other usage charges. These costs, along with any foundation class or camp for new students, are separate from tuition.

Current and former Integem students can add Tech Leadership directly: $599 for the annual program, $499 for fall only, or $499 for spring only. New students first take an Integem online class or summer camp, then add Tech Leadership. We can help your family choose the right starting program; its tuition is separate.

Each term includes 10 live online classes on scheduled Sundays, 7–8 PM Pacific Time. Fall runs September 13–December 5, 2026, with no class November 22 or 29. Spring begins January 10 and runs through May 2027, with no class January 17. We’ll choose two spring break Sundays with the group to accommodate different school calendars. The complete 10-session spring calendar and final May date will be confirmed with families.

Students build momentum through active class participation and 1–2 hours of independent work each week. Ambitious or award-competitive projects may need additional research, development, testing, and revision time. More time can support progress, though awards depend on the work and the organizer’s criteria. Community activities may happen outside class, and summer TA follows a separate schedule.

We help students work toward the Congressional Award with guidance on goals, eligible activities, recordkeeping, and application preparation. Students earn the Award through their own effort: completing the required activities, documenting their progress, and obtaining the necessary validation.

The Congressional Award makes the approval decision, so an award cannot be guaranteed. We support honest records of work actually completed; attendance or TA participation alone does not earn an award or establish eligible service hours. Some award goals may take longer than one program year.

We help students develop an idea, build and test their work, and prepare for a suitable challenge or science fair. Along the way, they receive practical guidance and feedback to strengthen their project and presentation.

Participation depends on the opportunity being offered, the student’s eligibility, project readiness, required approvals, and deadlines. Students complete their own work, and families handle registration, permissions, and submission steps with our guidance. Organizers decide acceptance and results, so a completed project, submission, entry, placement, or award cannot be guaranteed.

The 2026 project submission deadline was January 20, 2026. We are awaiting the 2027 deadline and detailed announcement. The official Challenge website currently asks families to check back in late September. We’ll share confirmed information when it becomes available. If the 2027 Challenge is offered, our project preparation will focus on the Challenge; otherwise, we’ll prepare for a local science fair. Students must meet the selected organizer’s eligibility, approval, and submission requirements.

The Congressional Award has a current one-time registration fee of $35, paid by parents directly on the Award’s website. This is separate from Integem tuition: $599 annually, $499 for fall only, or $499 for spring only. Students who are already registered do not need to register or pay again. Qualifying participants may be eligible for the Award’s fee waiver.

Presidential AI Challenge: There was no entry charge in 2026. We expect entry to remain free in 2027, but we are waiting for the detailed official announcement. A 2027 fee policy is not confirmed.

Local science fairs: County fairs may offer free participation, but fees, eligibility, school approvals, and deadlines vary. Families must check their own local fair’s requirements. Any organizer fees or optional project expenses are separate from Integem tuition.

Students can participate without purchasing software or an AI subscription. They may use Integem iCreator as directed and suitable tools available without paid access. A paid version of ChatGPT, Muse, Gemini, or another service is an optional family choice if you find it useful.

Families who choose a paid tool pay the provider directly for subscriptions, renewals, tokens, API usage, and other charges; these are separate from tuition. Parents should approve purchases, review pricing and trial renewals, use available spending limits and alerts, and monitor usage.

Responsible AI use is part of the learning. Teachers guide students, discuss thoughtful choices, and check work during live online class. Because teachers cannot see every tab, app, or action on a student’s computer, parents also need to supervise and monitor AI use during class as needed and at home.

We ask students and families to protect privacy together: use age-appropriate tools, follow provider account and consent rules, and keep confidential or private information out of AI prompts. This includes identifying photos, contact details, passwords, school records, health details, and billing information. Fictional or non-identifying sample data is a better choice.

Students learn to verify AI outputs, check for errors and bias, explain their own thinking, and credit tools and sources. A parent and instructor should review plans to connect agents to accounts, publish an app, collect community data, or spend money. The responsible AI guide at the bottom of this page explains these habits in one easy-to-read document.

If your student needs to miss a session, please let us know. We may be able to share available course materials to help them stay connected with the learning.

The program follows a shared class schedule, so individual makeup classes are not offered. To protect privacy, classes are not recorded. After the program starts, missed sessions—including illness, late arrival, or family internet or device problems—are not refundable. Please reach out if your student needs an accessibility accommodation.

Your enrollment reserves a place in the scheduled program. A written cancellation received before the first included activity begins qualifies for a full tuition refund under these program terms. Once the purchased program begins, tuition is nonrefundable for family withdrawal, missed classes, illness, unfinished work, or award and competition outcomes.

An annual enrollment may begin with summer TA before fall. If your student already participated in summer TA in 2026 as part of that same annual enrollment, the program has started. An unrelated earlier camp or TA experience does not start a new enrollment. Earlier purchases remain governed by their accepted terms. The Tech Leadership terms explain the details, including remedies if Integem cancels or cannot provide an included activity.

Students shadow Integem teachers and help peers learn AI, coding, robotics, drones, or related STEM subjects. Explaining ideas, listening, and helping others solve problems can deepen technical thinking, communication, and leadership. Teachers remain responsible for instruction and student supervision. Activities and timing are matched to readiness and availability. TA hours are not automatically eligible Congressional Award service hours.

Existing Integem students are welcome to join spring using skills or a project from an earlier Integem program. Spring-only tuition is $499, and fall-only tuition is also $499. The $599 annual program includes fall, spring, and summer TA experiences.

Yes. Students explore practical AI tools and agents, and discuss artificial general intelligence (AGI) as a concept, including its possibilities, uncertainties, and responsible use. We encourage thoughtful applications of AI to science, engineering, and community service.

Official Congressional Award registration begins at age 13½—six months after the 13th birthday. Award applications can be submitted from age 14. Eligible activities count only after official registration, and all other organizer requirements apply.