TEENS TO GET COMPUTER-TECH TRAINING; COMPONENT MAKER TO FUND LOCAL PROGRAM.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Daily News Staff Writer

Described as the ``shop class'' of the 21st century, a vocational education program at Palmdale High School will teach students how to design, build and maintain computer networks.

Students will gain expertise in networking, setting up links to the Internet and establishing routers - devices that enable computers to share information with each other.

``What it provides while they are in high school is the same type of professional training that they would get if they paid to go to a technical trade school,'' said Pat Hart, coordinator of education technology at the Antelope Valley Union High School District.

Palmdale High is one of 15 schools in Los Angeles County that will become networking academies as they take part in Technology for Learning, a collaboration between the county Office of Education and Cisco Systems Inc., a San Jose company that makes computer components.

As part of the public-private partnership, Cisco pledged $18 million in equipment, curriculum materials and other resources to establish vocational academies in schools nationwide, officials said.

Studies show that there is a need for workers with computer skills. One study released two weeks ago by the Information Technology Association of America and the Virginia Polytechnic Institute indicates the information technology field is short of 346,000 workers.

The two-year, four-semester program will target juniors and seniors and be open to students from all high schools in the district. Hart said she hopes to have classes at more than one school site to increase accessibility.

The program is scheduled to begin in the spring or summer, Hart said.

A computer network technician at Palmdale High School, Hugo Schraer, was trained for two weeks in early January and will teach 10 others how to lead the course.

The program uses an online curriculum designed and donated by Cisco.

``Cisco is one of the industry leaders in the field. They need people to understand their system,'' Hart said. ``From the students' point of view, they get training that will enable them to go into entry-level positions.''

When students complete the program, they can take a test to become certified by Cisco in computer networking.

``We are terribly excited about the program. As a district, we are committed to have students job-ready upon graduation,'' Hart said. ``With the growth of technology industries, this is a unique opportunity for students to get into the program.''