Connecticut’s first high school quantum computing program expands with new learning pathways

dae students Musa Khalif (center) and Keith Foster (right) showcase their work to IBM Quantum Ambassador Dr. Faezeh Gholami. Photo credit: Joel Callaway.

The nonprofit organization dae has announced an expansion of daeZERO, Connecticut’s first quantum computing program for high school students. The announcement follows a showcase where students demonstrated quantum circuits built and executed on IBM’s live quantum platform.

The program introduces high school juniors and seniors to foundational concepts such as superposition, entanglement, and quantum measurement. Students use IBM’s Qiskit tools to build algorithms, including Grover’s Search and Deutsch-Jozsa, with no prior computer science experience required.

“Programs like this are important to our whole economy, to all of America,” said U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, who spoke at the event. “I talk to businesses of all kinds… they tell me the same thing: we can’t find people with the right skills, especially in STEM, to fill the jobs that are open right now.”

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The expanded slate of daeZERO offerings for 2026 includes:

Quantum, Decoded Workshop (Stamford): June 1, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
June One-Week Intensive (New Haven): June 15–19, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
August Two-Week Intensive (New Haven and Stamford): August 17–27, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Summer Six-Week Intensive (Stamford): July 7–August 13, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Fall 12-Week Intensive (Multiple locations): September 14–December 11, once weekly.

Each cohort is capped at 15 students to provide individualized support. Participants have the opportunity to earn IBM credentials and complete a documented quantum algorithm for their portfolios.

“If you want to really dig into the industry-based applications of quantum computing and get actual hands-on experience, there’s only one program and it’s right here in Connecticut,” said a.m. bhatt, dae’s founder and CEO.

The nonprofit also launched Orbital, a learning community for program graduates that provides continued access to industry speakers and experiential sessions. According to Vivek Ramakrishnan of QuantumCT, the program addresses real-world use cases in compute, sensing, cryptography, and materials found within the state.

The daeZERO program is delivered by dae with support from IBM Quantum, QuantumCT, and Yale University. Interested students and families can register at mydae.org/daezero.

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Connecticut’s first high school quantum computing program expands with new learning pathways