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What
is Tech Prep?
Tech
Prep is a major initiative that involves restructuring traditional
curricula and introducing new approaches at the high school and
community college levels. Viewed as one of the most innovative and
effective education reform efforts in recent American history, Tech
Prep connects the student with adaptive skills to compete successfully
in the new workplace. Furthermore, for those students pursuing a
Distinguished Achievement Program diploma (DAP), Tech Prep can be
used as one of the “measures.” Currently, there are over 1,000 Tech
Prep program sites operating nationwide.
What
is a Tech Prep Program?
- A
six-year plan of academic and technical study cooperatively developed
by secondary and post-secondary course content specialists with
assistance from business, industry, and labor representatives.
- Emphasis
on teaching methods that meet the needs of all students.
- One
or more formal agreements (called Articulation Agreements) between
post-secondary Associate Degree-granting institutions and 4yr
Degree Granting institutions with school districts that outline
a process for students to receive college credit for specific
courses taken in high school; and
- A
support system of comprehensive career guidance and counseling,
staff development, and student support services.
Do
Tech Prep programs need State approval?
Yes, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board (THECB) officially recognize Tech Prep programs
only after formal submission of an application and joint review.
The process is outlined in the Guidelines for Instructional Programs
in Workforce Education (GIPWE), January 1998, a publication of the
THECB.
What
Are the Benefits of Tech Prep?
The
level of education and training needed for jobs today has increased
dramatically from previous decades. Most high paying careers today
require education beyond high school. Tech Prep gives students a
solid foundation for college or other postsecondary education. It
gives students choices they may not have known were available. It
gives them access to education, skills and jobs. Tech Prep gives
students a career focus for their education. Students no longer
drift through school without clear goals or without any real vision
of their future. Students can set their sights on a career, discover
what it takes to get there and begin preparing for a successful
future.
The
transition from high school to postsecondary education is smoother
because of the sequential progression of course work developed cooperatively
by schools and employers. These career pathways also give students
the opportunity to earn college credits while in high school, thereby
saving tuition dollars and completing career requirements sooner.
Tech Prep generates higher graduation rates. 90-percent of Tech
Prep students graduate from high school, compared to an 85-percent
graduation rate for all students. Workplace learning available through
Tech Prep helps students see how their academic subjects are actually
used in the work world and why they are important to future success.
| MISSION
STATEMENT |
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The
mission of the South Texas Tech Prep Consortium is to provide
support and direction for educational institutions to create
seamless educational programs that enable students to be globally
competitive life-long learners. Through awareness and expansion,
the South Texas Tech Prep Consortium will enhance and strengthen
educational programs by integrating basic academic skills.
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