Tech-Prep

What is Tech-Prep?

            Tech-Prep/TPAD programs offer an alternative college prep approach, a college tech prep approach. It provides contextual approaches to teaching and learning, offering more students an opportunity to succeed while maintaining high standards. Tech-Prep is a career-oriented curricular and instructional strategy for all students which begins in high school and continues up through a two-year post secondary degree. It incorporates school-based and work-based instruction.

            Tech-Prep's seamless curriculum provides students with the opportunity to make a smooth transition from one educational system to another without experiencing delays or duplication of course work. Tech-prep Programs are an alternative to traditional preparation for post-secondary education, it does not limit opportunities for students who wish to pursue advanced education.

            The Tech-Prep program is a major component in the School-to-Work initiative. it is the skill level curriculum for students within the cluster/major format. In order for Tech-Prep/TPAD to be successful, the School-to-Work structure must be in place.

            The success of the TPAD program lies in the operational plan of the School-to-Work partnership and the Community and Technical College District Consortium. The TPAD Consortium is comprised of post-secondary and secondary programs chairs, academic core educators, administrative representatives and business/labor representatives.

            This program cannot be developed without a collaboration of secondary and post-secondary educators. It also must have active involvement of business and labor.

The focus of the Tech-Prep Consortium is to :

• Assess current programs (adding or deleting programs determined by a need assessment)
• Eliminate duplications at the respective education levels
• Develop sequential, seamless curriculum
• Work collaboratively with the local STW partnership
• Monitor/evaluate the respective programs

            A college Tech-Prep program is the ideal solution to West Virginia's low going college rate. The Perkins Act has Allocated monies to assist educational institutions in bringing about the tech prep education reform. States who have integrated TPAD programs are reporting successes in lower drop out rates and higher test scores. The educational community in West Virginia, both secondary and post-secondary, have an obligation and an opportunity to collaboratively make TPAD a viable career choice for all students.