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