Tech Prep is a sequence of study beginning in high school and continuing through at least two years of postsecondary occupational education. The program parallels the college prep course of study and presents an alternative to the general education program. It prepares students for high-skill technical occupations and allows either direct entry into the workplace after high school graduation or continuation of study which leads to an associate degree in a two-year college.

The Tech Prep program integrates academic and occupational subjects, placing heavy emphasis on articulation from secondary to postsecondary education. Articulation between high schools and two-year colleges embodies a competency-based, technical curriculum, designed jointly by business/labor and secondary/postsecondary schools, which teaches essential competencies without duplication or repetition. The advanced skills required to complete an associate degree at the postsecondary level in a chosen career build on the strong academic and technical foundation at the secondary level. The curriculum being designed for Tech Prep/Associate Degree programs will prepare better educated workers with advanced skills and the ability to transfer skills as technology changes.

Why is Tech Prep needed?

At a time when employers are demanding high performance in the American workforce, "more than half our young people leave school without the knowledge or foundation required to find and hold a job," according to a 1991 report from the U.S. Department of Labor. Today's workplace requires advanced technical skills and an ability to understand complex theories and processes in rapidly changing and emerging technologies. Most jobs that offer growth, challenge, and earning potential require a working knowledge of math, science, technical principles, and information/communications skills. We educate students in the rigorous applied academics as well as technical skills that can transfer their knowledge of principles, concepts, and technologies to practical applications in a variety of technical jobs.

Who Benefits From Tech Prep Programs?

Students get:

* Sound academic skills

* Appropriate technical skills

* Advanced placement at college

Parents Get:

* Sons and daughters with a strong academic background who are ready to enter college

* Sons and daughters prepared to be successful in the modern workplace

Employers Get:

* A better educated work force

* Employees with problem-solving and teamwork abilities

High Schools Get:

* An increase in the number of students graduating

* Elevated student performance

Colleges Get:

* More opportunity to concentrate on advanced skills

* Better prepared students

Missouri Gets:

* A world-class work force

* Maximum use of human and fiscal resources