What Is Tech Prep Excerpted from the National Tech Prep Network (NTPN) “Member’s Only Definitions Page.” Click here to learn more about NTPN Definitions Tech Prep - The Federal Definition Tech Prep Explained Who Can Benefit The Perkins Act Tech Prep - The Federal Definition Excerpted from The ABC's of Tech Prep: A User's Manual Tech Prep Education - The Federal Definition Tech Prep education is a significant innovation in the education reform movement in the United States. Tech Prep was given major emphasis in the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act of 1990 and was amended in the School-to-Work Opportunities Act of 1994. Tech Prep education is a 4+2, 3+2 or 2+2 planned sequence of study in a technical field beginning as early as the ninth year of school. The sequence extends through two years of postsecondary occupational education or an apprenticeship program of at least two years following secondary instruction and culminates in an associate degree or certificate. Tech Prep is an important career preparation strategy, helping all students make the connection between school and employment or postsecondary education. TECH PREP EXPLAINED Tech Prep is a dynamic educational reform movement that involves: Partnership - schools (secondary and postsecondary) - employers - families and community leaders A process of teaching and learning - expects the same levels of high achievement from all students - recognizes and addresses a variety of learning styles - integrates practical applications into academics A curriculum structure - is central, but not limited, to grades nine through fourteen - keeps student choices and career and educational options open - prepares students for critical thinking and lifelong learning The purpose of Tech Prep is to prepare any student to enter and succeed in a postsecondary institution or career. Who Can Benefit Any learner can be a Tech Prep student. Tech Prep students are usually in high school or community college. Children can start learning about careers in elementary and middle school. Students can use their Tech Prep education as the foundation for four-year college or university degrees. All Tech Prep students should benefit from contextual teaching and the continuity of a seamless curriculum. The most important aspect of Tech Prep is to target the needs of the neglected majority of students. Neither top achievers nor special-needs kids, they are the average students whom American education is not serving adequately. For the most part they have little direction, low expectations, and, left on their own, little hope of becoming all they can be. We mistakenly make two assumptions about these students: - They can't be motivated to learn. - They don't really have the ability to handle academic subjects. Copyright 2003, Cord Communications. All rights reserved.