Questions about KTEC Schools

The future of Wisconsin jobs lies in innovation as technology, globalization, and the demand for creative solutions rapidly transform our industries. The name KTEC Schools of Innovation reflects our mission to provide rigorous academics and hands-on learning, preparing students to thrive in Wisconsin’s innovation economy.

The first KTEC school opened in 2007, under a charter contract with the Kenosha Unified School District (KUSD). KTEC operated this school until 2025, when the governance board ended their charter contract with KUSD.

In 2022, KTEC High School opened as an independent charter school overseen by the University of Wisconsin. In 2025, an elementary and middle school were added to KTEC High School’s charter.

As of fall 2025, all three KTEC Schools of Innovation are located at the former Saint Mary’s School campus, at 7400 39th Ave in Kenosha, WI. [IF READY TO CONFIRM] We are in the process of acquiring and converting a vacant property at 1901 63rd Street into a permanent home for KTEC Schools of Innovation.

KTEC Schools of Innovation are open to all students in the state of Wisconsin. There are no academic requirements or entrance exams.

KTEC schools are tuition-free public charter schools, so there is no cost to attend!

Click here to enroll your child at KTEC Schools of Innovation. Under Wisconsin charter school law, if we receive more enrollment applications than available seats, we will conduct a random lottery.

Questions about Governance

Charter schools are public schools that are granted increased autonomy and flexibility in exchange for delivering a high-quality, innovative education. Charter schools have a contract with an authorizer, who oversees their operations and provides accountability. This could be a public school district, a college or university, or a government office such as city council.

In the state of Wisconsin, an Independent Charter School is a charter school that is authorized by a body other than a public school district. KTEC Schools of Innovation is an Independent Charter School, authorized through the University of Wisconsin’s Office of Educational Opportunity (OEO).

KTEC Schools of Innovation are authorized by the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, through the Office of Educational Opportunity (OEO). The schools are operated by KTEC Schools, a nonprofit organization, with oversight from the OEO.

As an Independent Charter School, KTEC Schools of Innovation is funded through a combination of state per-pupil funding and philanthropic grants. There is no added tax burden for Kenosha families.

KTEC’s original K4-8 school, founded in 2007, was authorized through a contract with the Kenosha Unified School District (KUSD). Originally, this agreement provided KTEC with the independence necessary to implement its innovative STEM-focused model. Over the years, KUSD began to take steps to limit KTEC’s autonomy, making it impossible to offer the education students and families had come to expect.

In early 2025, the governance board of the original K4-8 KTEC school and the board of KUSD came to an agreement to end their charter contract. KTEC ceased operations at the school at the end of January 2025, and it became a district school.