A BEST PRACTICE PROGRAM FOR STUDENT TRANSITIONS
Jamie WellsDirector of South King County Tech Prep Consortium
Jo JacobsonDirector of Pierce County Careers Connection
What is Tech Prep?A dual credit program
• Students earn college credit while in high school
−Without leaving their high school−In Career & Technical Education classes
• Jump start on college and career pathway
TECH PREP DEFINED
• Leads to an associate degree or certificate
• Provides technical preparation in a career and technical education program
• Builds student competence in mathematics, science, and communication (including applied academics)
• Leads to placement in employment
22 Tech Prep Consortia
Tech Prep Partnerships•Community and Technical Colleges
•Universities
•School Districts
•Business and Labor
•Community
•Unique!!!!
Secondary / Post secondary / Workforce
State Statistics – Number of Students earning College Tech Prep credits
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
1999-2000
01-02 03-04 05-06 07-08
Students
State Statistics – Number of College Tech Prep credits earned
020,00040,00060,00080,000
100,000120,000140,000160,000
1999-2000
01-02 03-04 05-06 07-08
Credits Earned
Positive Impacts
Families saved money; college credits today at least $80 per credit
Taxpayers saved money; students earn credits on high school campuses
Total savings of $28.9 million
Great return for Washington State from a $1.9 million investment of federal funds
Benefits . . . Advantages for all students
Direct college credit transcript
Credits may be applied toward professional-technical degree or certificate
College credit on resume helps students stand out
Students entering military may be eligible for promotion and pay raise
Students and parents save time and money
Possible priority registration at college awarding credit
Credits may be used in a variety of ways
Not exclusive of other dual credit programs
Articulation AgreementsTech Prep Articulation Agreements
Use a common set of competencies
Designed to eliminate duplication in high school and college courses – Programs of Study
Enable students to earn college credit
Articulation AgreementsA combined secondary and post-secondary program that provides a
seamless educational pathway.
2 + 2High School Post-Secondary
usually community or technical college or
apprenticeship
Articulation Agreements
A combined secondary and post-secondary program that provides a
seamless educational pathway.
2 + 2 + 2High
School Post-
Secondary4-yr
College or University
Competitive Edge
Students enrolling in a sequence of courses and continuing on in the same program at the college level to achieve a certificate or Associate degree have a competitive edge in the workforce
Economic attainment1 year of college level credits plus a
credential is the tipping point for students needing to find career pathways
Jobs that need 1 year college level credit + credential are among those in greatest demand
Tech Prep programs offer a jump start
Tech Prep can also be bundled with other dual credit programs
What about Transfer?All credits are awarded after college competencies
are completed with a 3.0 (“B”) or betterAll credits are directly transcribed & a college
transcript createdCollege transcripts are the same as those received
by students completing the course on the college campus
Transcribed credits apply for certificates and degrees at the corresponding college
Students attending other colleges or universities, need to remember to bring their transcripts for credit evaluation for certificates, degrees, or elective credit
Applied BaccalaureatesCollege pilots selected based on:
Analysis of gaps in service delivery
Capacity
Student & employer demand for programs
The baccalaureate pilots and university centers bring education to people where they need it.
People are able to come and to finish what they started.
Summary . . .
Tech Prep is a cooperative effortTech prep offers savingsTech Prep provides options for high
school studentsCollege creditsVerified work skills
Tech Prep provides:College credits for students ready to test their skills
Equal access to post-secondary transitions
National Best Practice Awards