Diane Ross Gary, Ed.D.
Connecticut State Department of Education
165 Capitol Avenue, PO Box 2219, Hartford, CT 06145-2219
(860) 713-6593, Fax (860) 713-7049
diane.ross.gary@ct.gov

Definitions  [Definitions]

Purpose of the Tech Prep Grant: To encourage the development of 4-year and 6-year career and technical education programs that combine secondary and post secondary programs which lead to a minimum of a two-year associate degree, two-year certificate or credit towards a bachelor's degree in a related career and technical education field that includes mathematics, science, communications and a career cluster pathway course.

Definition of Connecticut's Tech Prep Secondary Student: Has indicated an intent to pursue, and is enrolled in a sequential program of study that includes mathematics, science, communication and a career course within a recognized tech prep education plan that consists, at a minimum of two years of secondary and two years of post secondary study; is carried out under a written articulation agreement; may allow the student to earn post secondary credit while in high school; and leads to a specific two-year certificate, associate degree or a bachelor's degree in a career and technical education field.

Definition of Connecticut's Tech Prep Postsecondary Student: Has participated in the secondary portion of a recognized tech prep education plan that consists, at a minimum, of two years of secondary and postsecondary study, is carried out under a written articulation agreement; and leads to a postsecondary two-year certificate degree, associate degree or a bachelor's degree in a career and technical education field; and has enrolled in the post secondary portion of that education plan. The student may have earned college credit in the high school in the areas of mathematics, science, communications and a career pathway course.

Definition of Connecticut's Tech Prep Program: Consists of at least two years of secondary and two years of post secondary education and leads to an associate degree or a bachelor's degree in a specific career field; established upon the signing of an articulation agreement between a specific high school and/or vocational-technical school and specific college and/or university. The course pathway toward the degree or certificate, beginning in high school, is a coherent sequence and does not require repetition of the same learning outcomes. A complete Tech Prep curriculum is comprised of courses in high school of math, communications, science, and a career pathway course in a program of study. Where learning outcomes can be established as being identical, college credit may be awarded for the course(s)

Program Narrative 2000-2001 [narrative]

Purpose of the Tech Prep Grant: To encourage the development of 4-year and 6-year career and technical education programs that combine secondary and post secondary programs which lead to a minimum of a two-year associate degree, two-year certificate or credit towards a bachelor's degree in a related career and technical education field that includes mathematics, science, communications and a career cluster pathway course.

Definition of Connecticut's Tech Prep Secondary Student: Has indicated an intent to pursue, and is enrolled in a sequential program of study that includes mathematics, science, communication and a career course within a recognized tech prep education plan that consists, at a minimum of two years of secondary and two years of post secondary study; is carried out under a written articulation agreement; may allow the student to earn post secondary credit while in high school; and leads to a specific two-year certificate, associate degree or a bachelor's degree in a career and technical education field.

Definition of Connecticut's Tech Prep Post Secondary Student: Has participated in the secondary portion of a recognized tech prep education plan that consists, at a minimum, of two years of secondary and post secondary study, is carried out under a written articulation agreement; and leads to a post secondary two-year certificate degree, associate degree or a bachelor's degree in a career and technical education field; and has enrolled in the post secondary portion of that education plan. The student may have earned college credit in the high school in the areas of mathematics, science, communications and a career pathway course.

Definition of Connecticut's Tech Prep Program: Consists of at least two years of secondary and two years of post secondary education and leads to an associate degree or a bachelor's degree in a specific career field; established upon the signing of an articulation agreement between a specific high school and/or vocational-technical school and specific college and/or university. The course pathway toward the degree or certificate, beginning in high school, is a coherent sequence and does not require repetition of the same learning outcomes. A complete Tech Prep curriculum is comprised of courses in high school of math, communications, science, and a career pathway course in a program of study. Where learning outcomes can be established as being identical, college credit may be awarded for the course(s).

Overview: Connecticut's Tech Prep Programs are organized around consortia consisting of a community college, local comprehensive high schools, regional vocational technical schools and business and industry. The coordination of these Tech Prep consortia exists through a minimum of quarterly meetings of its members to discuss the Tech Prep Quality Indicators (see attachment): articulation, curriculum student opportunities, professional development and accountability and sustainability, as well as other information to ensure programmatic and student success. As partners in the consortia, business and industry plays a key role in providing work-based learning experiences for students and teachers on both the secondary and post secondary levels.

In 2000-2001, Connecticut Tech Prep Consortia focused on the five main areas of the program quality indicators:

• Articulation;
• Curriculum;
• Student Opportunities;
• Professional Development; and
• Accountability and Sustainability.

Each Tech Prep program has a planned program of study that includes four components to include articulated courses in the areas of math, science, communications and a career pathway area of concentration. These courses must meet the college requirements and the state's career and technical education program standards for the determined area of concentration. Tech Prep consortia have the option of using commercially developed applied academic products or developing their own curriculum. Each consortium reviewed and/or developed the articulated curriculum to meet the program standards.

The academic and career and technical education courses are given either college credit or are designed as prerequisites to ensure that students matriculate without a need for remediation. Students are enrolled in a complete and articulated program that will lead to their chosen career pathway. Each consortia reviewed and updated their signed articulation with their program partners.

Grants include a focus on meeting the Tech Prep Quality Indicators as well as in service components that provide professional development for both teachers and guidance and career counselors at the high school and college. In service was conducted through workshops and site visits to college campuses and business and industry locations. Additionally, the development of articulated curricula involving secondary and post secondary academic and technical instructors has been a joint learning venture. Faculty matches or meetings were held to determine program standards and competencies for each of the articulated course areas. Program Quality Reviews are completed yearly by region and the Tech Prep Program Quality Indicator Assessment is used.

Transition and support services were developed and available to all Tech Prep students. In addition to tutorial programs, specific activities undertaken in this area have included summer, after-school and weekend supervised laboratory experiences. Career planning and development was provided to Tech Prep students at both the high school and community college. Special consideration was given to special populations to meet their needs. A series of one-day seminars on career awareness, financial aid, scholarship assistance, library skills, study skills, and computer awareness were held. Saturday academies at multiple school sites were instituted in response to a need for tutorial services.

Additionally, in order to inform prospective Tech Prep students and their parents about the program, consortia have held orientation meetings; provided college site visits; and developed and disseminated pamphlets, brochures, and student handbooks. As recruiters and advisors, guidance and career counselors are playing an important role in Connecticut's Tech Prep program and its selection of students for the program.

Connecticut's Tech Prep Program Profile: In Connecticut there are 11 Tech Prep consortia consisting of a two-year community college, which serves as the lead agent, local and regional high schools, regional vocational-technical schools business and industry and other educational systems serving the out of school youth population. Statewide there are 151 planned high school-college partnerships with a total of 13 articulated program career cluster pathway areas. There are 3 Tech Prep programs through adult education and 7 Tech Prep programs through the correctional institution to serve the out of school population. In 2000-2001, these Tech Prep Programs served a total of 4,577 Tech Prep students in grades 11 and 12.

Program Accountability - Core Indicators for Tech Prep Students: While in high school, the Tech Prep Students' progress will be tracked using the secondary core indicators determined through the secondary progress measures and standards. There will be an additional field for a Tech Prep student using the state's definition of a Tech Prep Student. When the Tech Prep student matriculates to the community college then the Tech Prep Student's progress will be tracked using the post secondary core indicators determined through the post secondary progress measures and standards. This year's data will serve as a baseline year since this data was not collected last year as a separate data field.

Program Improvement Plan: This year the state Tech Prep consortia will review the community college's data collection system and improve the way the data is collected for Tech Prep students both in secondary and post secondary. Through BANNER a process will be developed and implemented to accomplish this improvement plan goal. This goal will give us more accurate student data by ethnicity.

Tech Prep Directors [directors] [Word] [PDF]

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Tech Prep Highlights [highlights]

• Course articulation agreements were expanded in the areas of early childhood education and manufacturing.
• Career exploration and job shadowing programs increased statewide and many highlighted non-traditional gender career options.
• Professional development was offered in the areas of workplace learning, mentoring, portfolio development and the use of technology in the classroom.
• High school faculty to college faculty discussions were held to review and discuss course alignment and articulation.
• All Tech Prep consortia statewide now offer all four-program elements to include but not limited to communications, math, science and a career cluster area.
• Tech Prep program enrollment has greatly increased in some of the consortia.
• New Tech Prep programs in Photonics, Plastics, Fire Engineering Technology, Information Technology, CISCO Networking Technology, Veterinary Technology and Early Childhood Education were developed.
• A new Tech Prep Program in Teacher Preparation for Career and Technology Teachers is being developed with UCONN.
• Data collection is more accurate due to the statewide community college BANNER data collection system.
• Many programs reviewed and/or developed a more formalized program and course articulation process.
• Tech Prep websites are being developed statewide.
• A career counseling component has been added and/or expanded in all Tech Prep programs.
• Tech Prep student opportunities have been expanded to include one-stop transition programs, student ID cards, tutoring and on campus college programs.
• Work-based opportunities have been expanded for Tech Prep students.

Websites/Resources [web]

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