Each year CFY assembles a group of students from our New York City partner schools to test software and identify applications to include in the software package we install on donated computers. The children are typically in grades 6-8 and range in age from 11-13 years. They are largely from minority backgrounds. Participating students analyze and rate software titles according to specifications and metrics developed by CFY’s research team.

Student Software Team

members meet over the course of six months. They convene on Saturday afternoons with CFY staff to:

• Learn to evaluate software
  
• Participate in team-building activities
  
• Learn to make public presentations about software
  
• Receive coaching from industry mentors

After the students have received training, they attend CFY’s Education Executives Day where they demonstrate and discuss the software with education executives from across the country.

In addition, members of the team participate in CFY's Tech Leadership Awards event where they demonstrate software and help present the winning

Family Learning Software Award.