Southwest Virginia Career Pathways Consortium

Southwest Virginia Community College and the Public Schools of Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell and Tazewell Counties

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What is Tech Prep?

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Tech Prep refers to a combined secondary and two-year postsecondary program of study that is seamless and has integrated options for work-based learning. Because Tech Prep places equal emphasis on academic and technical preparation, it also has a placement component that may lead to employment and further education that may lead to a four-year degree.

In 1999, the Virginia state executive committee accepted the following as the official Virginia definition of Tech Prep:

The term Tech Prep means a program of study that

• is carried out under an articulation agreement between the participants in the consortium;
  
  
• combines at a minimum two years of secondary education (as determined under State law) with a minimum of two years of postsecondary education in a nonduplicative, sequential course of study, with a common core of required proficiency in mathematics, science, reading, writing, communications, and technologies designed to lead to an associate's degree or a postsecondary certificate in a specific career field;
  
  
• integrates academic, and vocational and technical, instruction, and utilizes work-based and worksite learning where appropriate and available;
  
  
• meets academic standards developed by the State;
  
  
• provides technical preparation in a career field such as engineering technology, applied science, a mechanical, industrial, or practical art of trade, agriculture, health occupations, business, or applied economics;
  
  
• links secondary schools and 2-year postsecondary institutions, and if possible and practicable, 4-year institutions of higher education through nonduplicative sequences of courses in career fields;
  
  
• builds student competence in mathematics, science, reading, writing, communications, economics, and workplace skills through applied, contextual academics, and integrated instruction, in a coherent sequence of courses;
  
  
• leads to an associate or baccalaureate degree or a postsecondary certificate in a specific career field; and
  
  
• leads to placement in appropriate employment or to further education.

More Information

TECH PREP is a combined high school and community college program of study which provides college level academic education and high level technical career skills. TECH PREP helps students learn with examples from real life. By linking secondary and postsecondary education programs, TECH PREP offers students relevant learning that can lead to an associate degree, apprenticeship, or a four-year degree. TECH PREP opens the door to expanded opportunities in terms of career goals and education or training choices. The TECH PREP graduate is ready for successful employment in the more competitive, high technology job market of the future.



Frequency Asked Questions about TECH PREP

WHAT IS THE TECH PREP ADVANTAGE FOR STUDENTS?

Approximately 80 percent of all jobs in the future will require academic excellence in oral and written communications skills and a high level understanding of physical, mathematical, and scientific processes. This will require students to think critically, solve problems, communicate effectively, and work as members of a team. TECH PREP programs of study prepare students with skills based on technical math, science and communications needed to become real competitors in the job market and knowledgeable decision makers in the community. After graduating from the high school TECH PREP component, students can go on to a community college technical program and complete requirements of an associate degree for careers in engineering and industrial technologies; health, human and public services; business and marketing; agriculture, environment and natural resources; or high technology communications, arts and media.

WHAT IS THE ADVANTAGE FOR VIRGINIA'S COMMUNITIES?

Within each TECH PREP region there is a special focus on careers related to existing job opportunities and projected labor market needs in its communities. Area employers and community leaders meet with educators to provide technical skill information at the beginning of the curriculum development process. Employers continue to be involved throughout the TECH PREP program of study. Business, industry and community representatives visit classrooms to bring their knowledge and advice to students. They invite teachers, counselors and students to visit and experience the workplace environment first hand. Positive results for TECH PREP program completers include a better prepared local workforce and a better educated local citizenry. These connections between education and the communities' business and industry leaders create win-win-win situations for educators, communities and students.

HOW IS TECH PREP FUNDED?  

TECH PREP is federally funded through the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act . The grants for FY 2003 are funded at $98,000 per single TECH PREP consortium in Virginia. In addition to the federal funds, each consortium also receives funding and in-kind services from the local school divisions and community college that are part of its membership. In addition, many of the 23 consortia also receive funds and services from local businesses and industries as well as from foundations and other grant sources.

HOW DO COMMUNITIES BENEFIT FROM TECH PREP FUNDING?

All TECH PREP grant awards are made to local consortia. Membership of the consortium must include a postsecondary educational institution (usually a community college) and the local school divisions within the college's service region. Additionally, many consortia also include institutions of higher learning, businesses, industries and local community organizations. In Virginia, every one of the 135 school divisions and every one of the 23 community colleges have had the opportunity to benefit from TECH PREP grant funds. These funds have been used for curriculum development and revision; -professional development for Virginia's secondary and postsecondary educators, counselors and administrators; assessment and evaluation of programs; marketing and public relations; materials and supplies for implementation of programs; and a limited investment in personnel and in equipment to implement new curriculum including programs for new and emerging high technology career areas.

WHAT DO WE NEED IN TECH PREP IN VIRGINIA?

Immediate Future

+ Recognition and support for TECH PREP from state leadership !

+ Equipment for school divisions and the community colleges in implement   TECH PREP programs.

+ The TECH PREP career pathways concept made available for all students in all schools in Virginia; beginning at the ninth grade.

+ Scholarships for TECH PREP high school graduates to attend community colleges in order to continue with the postsecondary component of their program of study and career preparation.

+ Funding and empowerment of K-12 career counselors.

+ Increased partnerships between TECH PREP and business/industry.

+ Improved credit transfer among educational institutions in Virginia

HOW DOES A STUDENT BECOME A "TECH PREP" STUDENT?

Although there are variations from one consortium to another, the typical path a student would follow to become enrolled in a TECH PREP program of study is summarized below:

Students who graduate from the high school component of a TECH PREP program of study are prepared to continue academic study and career preparation at the community college level; they should not need academic remediation such as developmental courses. In addition, many of them may have already begun to accumulate college credit through dual enrollment courses taken while they were still in high school or through articulation agreements between the college and the school division. Some students may choose to modify' the standard TECH PREP program of study by taking courses specifically required by a four-year university that they plan to enter. Others may plan to enter the work force full-time upon graduation from high school and continue in community college as apart-time student, or even return to the postsecondary component after a year or two of post-high school employment. The bottom line is that the TECH PREP high school graduate is prepared for both -college and work; and is qualified to continue the postsecondary program immediately or in the future. It is important to remember that the difference between traditional (vocational education and college preparatory academic courses) and TECH PREP is in the teaching methodology and its responsiveness to different learning styles; content is of the same rigor as traditional courses.


Comprehensive career counseling is integral to the selection of a TECH PREP course of study throughout the secondary to postsecondary education path. Students are counseled in all the options and select the one that best suits their goals at that time. These decisions are reviewed annually and modified if so desired by the student.


The primary characteristics that distinguish a TECH PREP high school graduate from other graduates, is that they are already midway toward achieving a productive career goal. They are equipped with the academic knowledge and the career skills to open the door to opportunity for higher paying, more specialized employment in their immediate future and for moving to other options for higher education and/or career advancement in the long term.

See your middle school or high school counselor today!!!!

For more information about Tech Prep in Virginia contact:

M. Elizabeth Creamer, Director
CreamerE@vccs.edu
Tech Prep in Virginia