· 7 min read · Schools, Careers
Drone Education Programs in 2026: Middle School to Jobs
A level-by-level map of drone programs, from K–8 kits to high school CTE, college UAS degrees, and adult credentials, and where the gaps are.
Read article
Schools & EducatorsAdd a drone program
Add a drone program
to your school.
Students earn the FAA Part 107 certificate, then build and fly a drone of their own. Drone Edge brings the courses, the teacher dashboard, the kits and the teacher training, and helps you find the funding. Your teacher doesn't need to be a pilot.
FAA Part 107 credentialNo pilot license needed to teachDrone kits in your quoteHelp finding funding
Why drones
One project that brings STEM together.
Drones combine engineering, electronics, coding, science, and photo and video. That makes them a strong platform for hands-on problem-solving that builds students' confidence, and the work can end in a real credential.
A growing industry
Construction, agriculture, inspection, public safety, mapping and media all use drones, and they need people who can fly them safely.
Hands-on problem-solving
Flight physics, electronics, coding and data come together in something students build, fix and fly themselves.
A real credential
Students 16 and older can take the FAA knowledge test for the Remote Pilot Certificate, a federal credential.
Certify first. Then build.
Two courses, one path: students learn to fly legally, then build, fix, and fly an aircraft of their own.
Available now
1. FAA Part 107 Certification
Browser-based lessons, practice exams, and a teacher dashboard. Students 16 and older can sit the FAA knowledge test for the Remote Pilot Certificate, a federal credential.
See the curriculumEarly access January 2027
2. Drone Building
Students design a frame in CAD, assemble a 3.5" prop-guarded quad, set it up in Betaflight, and fly it in a supervised flight lab. About 33–38 class sessions, with safety gates before every power-on.
See the building trackIn a real classroom
Running in a Pennsylvania public high school.
Students work through the Part 107 course in class, side by side with printed sectional charts. The course runs in any browser on school computers, with nothing to install.
What Drone Edge provides
Everything a school needs to start a drone program, with one partner to work through it with you.
Available now
Part 107 course + teacher dashboard
Browser-based lessons, 450+ practice questions and unit exams. Runs teacher-led, hybrid or self-paced, and teachers see every student’s progress by class period.
Early access January 2027
Drone building course
Students design a frame in CAD, assemble a 3.5" prop-guarded quad, set it up in Betaflight, and fly it in a supervised flight lab.
Teacher training
Your teacher doesn’t need to be a pilot or hold Part 107. We train them to run the course, the build and flight days.
Drone kits
We source the parts and quote kits as part of your plan, for one drone per team or one per student.
On-site technician (optional)
On top of teacher training, add a Drone Edge technician at your school for build days and flight days.
Help finding funding
We point you to grants that fit, such as Perkins V and state CTE and STEM funds, and give you program descriptions, quotes and budget lines for the application.
What's included
Everything your students need to reach certification
The platform handles the learning infrastructure so you can focus on teaching. Students get a complete, structured path from first lesson to practice exam.
- 450+ ACS-tagged practice questions
- Video lessons with image galleries
- Unit exams with full score history
- Organization admin + student accounts
- Manager dashboard with cohort progress
- Structured curriculum aligned to Part 107
- No locked hardware — BYOD
- Dedicated support
FAA Part 107 Course
Full certification pathway
Unit 1: RegulationsComplete
Unit 2: Airspace & ChartsComplete
Unit 3: Airport OperationsIn progress
Unit 4: WeatherIn progress
Unit 5: Safety & OperationsIn progress
Class progress14 / 24 students
One quote for your whole program
Seats, kits and training in a single quote, sized to your class and how many drones you build.
Part 107 course
From $79
per student seat
Lessons, practice exams and the teacher dashboard.
Advanced courses
About $150
per student seat
Drone Building and later tracks, built on Part 107.
Drone kits
Quoted
by build count
Priced by how many drones you build: one per team or one per student.
Training and on-site days
Quoted
with your plan
Teacher training is part of the recommended plan. A technician visit is an optional add-on.
FAA knowledge test fees are paid to the testing center and aren't included.
How it works
Part 107 can start within a week of sign-up. Drone Building opens for early access in January 2027.
01
Book a free consultation
We learn about your program, class size, schedule and budget. No commitment required.
02
Get your plan and quote
Seats, kits, teacher training and any on-site days in one quote, plus funding sources that fit.
03
Train your teacher
We set up your school account, invite your students, train your teacher, and ship kits for the build.
04
Learn, build, fly
Students work through the course, then build and fly. You follow progress on the teacher dashboard.
Designed for:
CTE PathwaysSTEM ElectivesCareer AcademiesAfter-School ProgramsWorkforce DevelopmentCommunity College
Resources
All school articlesGuides for CTE directors and teachers
· 3 min read · Schools, Funding
How to Describe a Drone Program in a Grant Application
Plain wording for CTE and STEM grant narratives: credentials, outcomes, and budget lines, plus what a curriculum vendor can and can't provide.
Read article
· 4 min read · Schools, Part 107
Part 107 in High School CTE: How Schools Run It
How schools run FAA Part 107 prep as a semester or full-year CTE course, and what teachers see on the manager dashboard.
Read article
Flight days
The classroom work leads to real flying.
Part 107 study pays off on the field. Outdoor flying sessions let students put the rules into practice, and give the wider community, from local public-safety pilots to families, a reason to come and see what the program is building.
We train your teacher to run flight days. If you want extra hands, add a Drone Edge technician on site for build days and flight days.
Questions schools ask
- Does our teacher need to be a drone pilot or hold Part 107?
- No. We train your teacher to run the course, the build and flight days. Teachers can take the course themselves if they want the certificate, but it isn’t required.
- What does a program cost?
- The Part 107 course starts at $79 per student seat. Drone Building and other advanced courses are about $150 per seat. Kits are priced by how many drones you build. After a free consultation, we put seats, kits and training into one quote.
- Do you provide the drones?
- Yes. Kits are part of every Drone Building plan. We source the parts and quote them with your seats, for one drone per team or one per student.
- Can someone from Drone Edge come to our school?
- Yes, as an optional add-on. Teacher training is the recommended base, and a technician can also visit for build days and flight days.
- Can you help us pay for it?
- Yes. We help you find funding that fits, such as Perkins V, state CTE and STEM grants, and local education foundations. We give you program descriptions, quotes and budget lines for the application. Your grants office makes the final call on eligibility.
- How old do students need to be?
- Students must be 16 to take the FAA knowledge test for the Remote Pilot Certificate. Younger students can take the course now and test once they turn 16.
- When can we start?
- The Part 107 course can start within a week of sign-up. Drone Building opens for early access in January 2027, so you can start Part 107 now and add the build next semester or next fall.
- What do students need?
- Any device with a web browser. There is nothing to install and no locked hardware.
Ready to add a drone program at your school?
Book a free 30-minute consultation. We'll walk through your program, class size, timeline and funding, and send you one quote. No commitment required.
Book a Free Consultation