For years, we’ve worked with hundreds of high schools across the country—big and small, urban and rural—and one truth has become clear: almost every educator sees the potential of drones in the classroom. What stops them isn’t interest. It’s friction.
At USI, we’ve identified five core obstacles that routinely prevent schools from launching drone programs—and we’ve built our new Drone Pilot Starter Kit to remove every one of them.
Common Educator Challenges — and How the Starter Kit Solves Them:
1. Limited Instructor Experience- Most schools don’t have a drone expert on staff—and they shouldn’t need one to get started. But a lack of training can stall even the most excited teachers.
How the Starter Kit Helps with Lessons:
We designed this program for teachers, not tech experts. The Starter Kit includes a guided, instructor-friendly curriculum aligned with the FAA’s Part 107 exam. You’ll get access to a complete Learning Management System, lesson plans, and printed student workbooks—plus hands-on support from USI’s educator success team every step of the way.
2. Curriculum Fit and Scheduling Challenges
- Adding a new program means finding space in already packed CTE or STEM schedules. And let’s face it—many drone curriculums are bloated or unclear.
How the Starter Kit Helps with Curriculum:
This is a "plug and play" solution. Designed for flexibility, the curriculum can be delivered in short modules or a full course, with minimal prep required. Whether it’s a semester elective or an after-school program, it fits.
3. Low Student Engagement -
- Some tech programs don’t translate well to the classroom, and students can lose interest fast.
How the Starter Kit Helps with Student Engagement and Career Readiness:
Flying drones is inherently engaging—but we don’t stop at “cool.” We combine hands-on flight with real-world career prep, helping students see a path from the classroom to high-demand jobs in aviation, robotics, and public safety.
4. Lack of Alignment with CTE & STEM Standards- Schools can’t justify new programs unless they support state standards and measurable outcomes.
How the Starter Kit Helps with Standards and Certification:
The kit is built from the ground up to align with Perkins V, STEM pathways, and FAA requirements. It supports credentialing with the FAA Part 107 exam—giving students a nationally recognized certification and schools a measurable success story.
5. Choosing the Right Equipment- Faced with endless drone options, many educators don’t know where to start—or fear choosing the wrong gear.
How the Starter Kit Helps with Equipment:
We’ve taken the guesswork out. The Starter Kit includes five classroom-safe Echo drones from PITSCO—ideal for indoor or outdoor use—plus maintenance tools, flight checklists, and laminated study guides for every student.
Why Now?
