Does YC only fund web startups...

[iamdave]

or any startup involving technology? I have an idea for a educational program for elementary and middle school aged students to get involved in technology on a more interactively level than what's being used in formal schools. The idea is to have more innovative interaction exercises, group dynamics and personal development that uses technology instead of the up front "This is how you type", "this is what Microsoft Word looks like" type of education.

[pg]

We'd consider any technology startup. But as it says in the News.YC guidelines,

http://ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

you shouldn't use this site to ask YC questions about your application; just send us an email. Though in this case the answer is in our FAQ:

http://ycombinator.com/faq.html

[iamdave → pg]

Ah okay. Thanks for the reply, sorry about the rulebreak.

[Prrometheus]

Your buyer is run by public, unionized bureaucracies. How open do you think they would be to trying something radically new?

[derefr → Prrometheus]

Actually, by the phrasing it sounds like the educational "system" is to be run around completely, perhaps pitching this directly to parents similarly to products like "Hooked on Phonics."

[manvsmachine → Prrometheus]

Actually, a lot of teachers / professors are really trying to make their curricula more effective / relevant. A mentioned before, it's no longer a matter of just having a program that work and convincing teachers to use it. Not only do you have to get involved with the DoE, but now you also have to get Regents' Boards, accreditation organizations, and other governing bodies on board.

[alaskamiller → Prrometheus]

you have to pitch to the DoE. and that's a whole other blackhole of ineptitude,

[falsestprophet → Prrometheus]

Don't worry. No Child Left Behind changed all of that.

[atoulouse]

Introducing technology failed horribly (in one case, at least; our smartboards fared well) at my school when Neil Bush tested Ignite!. Introducing technology to schools is tricky, because in most cases it's not essential to teaching. Often, good teachers are nervous to change what works, and the bad teachers are usually unable to make it work well. If you want more interactivity in education, I'd advise you draw up a sample curriculum and offer to work (for free) with the school's star teachers to develop the technology around their curriculums.

Also, if you don't mind the plug (as I am an alumni), my mixed middle-high school, Gretchen Whitney HS, is ranked #1 in CA by API, and has a few very good and forward-thinking teachers who may be willing (hopefully) to do just such a thing. Couldn't hurt to ask.