• A Tech Prep student is one who has a four-year or six-year plan that includes participating in an approved official Tech Prep program designed specifically to prepare the student for a postsecondary degree, certificate, or approved apprenticeship leading to employment in related technical career fields.


• To be approved, a Tech Prep program must be governed by a consortium between secondary and post-secondary educational institutions with a formal articulation agreement.

1. Student plans to pursue an Associate’s Degree, a certificate or approved apprenticeship in a technical career field following high school graduation (Student Six-Year Educational Plan is the record of this requirement).
2. Student enrolls in either the Dual or Technical Path.
3. Student’s course of study includes at least 3 units in a vocational-technical area of concentration and one unit in a related vocational-technical area or 4 units in the same area. (Vocational-Technical Concentrator)
4. Student’s course of study is a program with a formal Articulation Agreement between high school and a postsecondary institution.

• Only 11^th and 12^th graders are counted
• Students must meet each of the four Tech Prep Student Criteria above.
• Dual/Joint enrolled students are counted as Tech Prep only if the course "provides technical instruction in a career field such as engineering technology, applied science, a mechanical, industrial, or practical art or trade, agriculture, health occupations, business, or applied economics" as required in the 1998 Perkins Act, Title II, Sec. 202, (3) (C)

Postsecondary Tech Prep Student Criteria

1. Student’s high school transcript has a Six-Year Educational Plan attached that identifies the student’s planned articulated program of study linking high school and postsecondary vocational-technical courses.
2. Student’s transcript indicates that he/she graduated high school under the Technical or Dual path rather than the University path.
3. Student’s high school transcript indicates that the student completed at least 3 units in a vocational-technical area and one unit in a related vocational-technical area or 4 units in the same area.
4. Student was enrolled in a high school program with a formal Articulation Agreement between the high school and the postsecondary institution.

Postsecondary Tech Prep Count

An incoming student is counted as a tech prep student if the individual:

1. Has completed a secondary sequential vocational concentration consisting of three credits in a focus and one unit in a related area, or an additional credit in sequence. An unofficial copy of the high school transcript must be attached to the request for articulation to the Tech Prep coordinator;
2. Has enrolled in an institution of higher education, (i.e., technical center or two-year college), an apprenticeship program, or other approved education/training program within two years of high school graduation; and
   
3. Has gained benefit through the articulation process.*