Overview
P-Techs (Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools) help our independent school district partners offer their students direct-to-workforce entry-level credential opportunities in high demand career fields.
Accomplishments
Over the past 12 months, ACC’s High School Career Programs Office has worked with area high school partners to create degree sequences that include a Level 1 credential that “stacks” or feeds directly into an associate of applied science (A.A.S.).
Without a stackable Level 1 credential, students attempting to enroll in workforce programs are often slowed by the Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSIA) college readiness test, which can be a formidable barrier. The Level 1 credential waives the TSI requirement, allowing the students to begin classes and gain experience not only in the classroom but for the workforce. It also provides students more time to prep and pass the TSI, if and when they choose to pursue the A.A.S.
In year two of these new revamped degree sequences, the temporary removal of the TSI barrier will increase enrollment in P-Tech programs and, over time, increase completion of at least a Level 1 certificate.
Katherine Anne Porter School (KAPS) and UT High School both received P-Tech planning year designations. Because of KAPS’ location and the online schooling that UT High School provides, both plan to be the first two P-Tech schools offering remote learning. Both schools are looking into the computer science field, where ACC offers online degree programs.
In the southeast portion of the service area, Cedar Creek High School and Del Valle High School have early P-Tech programs in advanced manufacturing. Given the location of Tesla and the future plans for an ACC workforce campus in this general area, this will provide students with the necessary resources and space to grow.
Impact
In P-Techs, the stackable Level 1 credential takes roughly two years to complete, serving as a viable opportunity for students wanting to get into the workforce right away. The sequence of classes can be spread over the four years of high school, which helps the student maintain school/life balance.
Next Steps
- Work with middle schools that feed into P-Tech schools and provide the necessary information to students and families about what they could do as an ACC student.
- Work with ACC career and technical instructional departments to develop stronger partnerships with high school programs.
- Shore up onboarding and orientation processes for students. While TSI is a benchmark of college readiness, our office can provide students with study tips, resources, and overall guidance about being a successful college student.