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Questar and the Capital Region BOCES, serving Albany, Schenectady, Schoharie and southern Saratoga counties, have been studying the prospect of a Tech Valley High for approximately a year. They hope to build and open the school by the fall of 2007, said Baldwin.

While many high schools offer internships or vocational programs that provide some exposure to the work world, this would take the concept to a new level. The program would be based on the close, ongoing relationship between academics and industry in higher education institutions like the University at Albany and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

"We've modeled this on what the University at Albany is doing with its nanotechnology," said Baldwin.

In addition to studying for a Regents high school diploma, students would spend much of their day working with high-tech employers.

"It's project-based learning," said Barbara Nagler, superintendent of Capital Region BOCES. "They invent and build something."

Students, who would get into the school through a lottery and would come from the 48 districts in the BOCES service areas, could work in a variety of fields, including nanotechnology, biosciences, energy, computer and material sciences.

Both the Capital Region and Questar III BOCES have well-established vocational programs in which students split their day between the classroom and a training center preparing for jobs in fields like auto mechanics or child care.

During the last few years though, both organizations were looking at expanding on that concept. They decided to join forces rather than try to create two separate schools. The governing boards of both BOCES have agreed and talks with the state Education Department, as well as key lawmakers such as state Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno, R-Brunswick, have all been encouraging, said Nagler.

"No one has said 'stop' at this point. In fact, most people have been enthusiastic about it," she said.

Planners already have a tentative site off I-90 near Exit 9 in East Greenbush. Land there is under the control of the Rensselaer County Industrial Development Agency, which could sell bonds to help finance the school.

Students coming to the school would have their home districts pay a tuition of about $12,000, although that money would likely be reimbursed by the state as a BOCES expense.

BOCES across the state provide a wide range of services to school districts and in many locations they run the vocational training programs.

While the Albany district has its own vocational program, students there could still attend the new high school, said officials.

Baldwin noted there are still many details to be worked out, such as developing a system that would let teachers from surrounding districts take turns working at the school. The school also wants to be able to get waivers that would allow people from the private sector, such as engineers, to serve as instructors.

A governing body for the new school also needs to be created.

In addition to Regents diplomas, students would graduate with some college credits in hand.

The school would be one of the first of its kind nationwide. A handful of such schools have already opened in California, said Baldwin. During the last year, he said, BOCES officials have visited some similar schools, such as a High Tech High in San Diego. Kids there have developed a new product for which they are seeking venture capital so they can actually produce and market their brainchild, said Baldwin. Because they are trying to get funding, they haven't revealed precisely what they are working on.

In addition to providing a unique new learning experience, a Tech Valley High would also be viewed as an economic engine, and a way to show youngsters there are some good job possibilities in the Capital Region.

"The goal would be to have kids keep wanting to learn more and to have something in the Capital Region, so they know they don't have to go away to become engineers or scientists," said Nagler.