P-TECH Designation
Benchmark 1: School Design
The Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) shall establish school structures and policies, regularly convene leadership teams, and ensure adequate staff capacity for the successful implementation and sustainability of the P-TECH program.
Benchmark 2: Partnerships
The Pathways in Technology Early High School (P-TECH) must have a current, signed memorandum of understanding (MOU) or interlocal agreement (ILA) with each Institution of Higher Education (IHE). The P-TECH must also have a current and signed agreement with each business/industry partner. Both agreements must respectively outline key issues related to the planning, implementation, and sustainability of the P-TECH program. Stakeholders shall review the MOUs and agreements annually. The agreements shall include the components described in the design elements below.
Benchmark 3: Target Population
The Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) shall target and enroll historically underserved students. The campus must enable students who are at-risk of dropping out or those who wish to accelerate completion of high school to combine high school courses and college-level courses. Enrollment decisions shall not be based on state assessment scores, discipline history, teacher recommendations, parent or student essays, minimum grade point average (GPA), or other criteria that create barriers for student enrollment.
Benchmark 4: Academic Infrastructure
The Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) must provide a rigorous course of study that allows students the opportunity to earn a high school diploma and enable a student to combine high school courses and college-level courses with the goal of earning industry-based certifications, certificates, and/or an associate degree and engage in appropriate work-based learning at every grade level.
Benchmark 5: Student Supports
The Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) must provide wrap-around strategies and services involving multiple stakeholders to strengthen academic, technical, and individual support for students to be successful in their P-TECH program.
Benchmark 6: Work-Based Learning
The Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) must offer students a variety of relevant, high-skill, work-based learning experiences at every grade level that respond to student interest and regional employer needs and contribute to students earning aligned industry certifications and credentials.