Created by Tech Prep of the Rio Grande Valley, Inc.

1
Tech Prep of the Rio Grande Valley, Inc.
Created by Tech Prep of the Rio Grande Valley,
Inc. September 2001
2
Presentation Objectives

• Provide information about Tech Prep of the Rio
  Grande Valley, Inc.
• Structure, mission, goals
• Important facts all stakeholders must know
• Share information about initiatives that work
• Manufacturing Technologies Laboratory
• School-to-Careers
• Tech Prep

3
Tech Prep of the Rio Grande Valley, Inc.

• A Texas nonprofit and federal 501(c)(3)
  corporation established in early 90s
• Mission to form working partnerships that
  leverage regional resources to provide
  reality-based learning for achieving a higher
  level of competence in the Valleys workforce

4
Stakeholders Working Together

• Tech Prep RGV is a collaborative of
• 31 independent school districts
• 7 colleges and universities
• Region One Education Service Center
• Workforce/Economic Development Boards
• Other private and public partners
• Funding through federal Perkins Tech Prep funds
  (THECB), School-to-Careers funds (TWC), and other
  sources

5
Tech Prep of the Rio Grande Valley, Inc.
Goals in written corporate strategic plan

• Form working partnerships that leverage regional
  resources
• Workforce boards
• CBIRD and CBIRD-TRAC
• Other partners
• Provide reality-based learning
• Increase academic competence

6
Truths About Employment Trends

• 5 million Americans are unemployed.
• 72 million Americans cannot read well enough
  to complete a job application.
• There are no good jobs left for people who do not
  have a marketable package of academic and
  technical skills!

7
Truths About Changing Workforce Needs
8
Truths About Student Priorities

• In a typical high school...
• One-third are preparing to go to college
• Two-thirds
• ? Lack focus
• ?Take the easiest courses
• ?Are disinterested in class-work
• ?Are underachieving
• ?Are least prepared for college or work

9
Truths About Transition to Career

• 50 find jobs by chance not by choice
• 64 that go to work would like to consider other
  career options
• First job retention average is less than 1 year
• 90 need problem solving, critical thinking, team
  work and communication skills.

10
Truths About Transition toPost-Secondary

• A 1998 National Education Goals Panel survey in
  Texas found that
• Of 1,000 high school students, 86 graduate
• Of 860, only 50 go to 4-year college
• Of 430, only 20 graduate
• Only 86 of Texas high school students (8.6)
  
  
  achieve a college-level education

11
Truths About Issues We Face in the Rio Grande
Valley

• High dropout rates
• High unemployment rates
• Shortage of educated role models-
• 47 of RGV residents have high-school diplomas
  (72 for state)
• 12 RGV residents have some college training
  (20 state/national averages)

12
Three Initiatives That Work

• Manufacturing Technologies Laboratory
• School-to-Careers
• Tech Prep

13
Manufacturing Technologies Laboratory (MTL)

• Promotes pursuit of higher-level math and science
  course work
• Students program computerized robots, lathes, and
  milling machines using the x-y-z coordinate
  system
• Over 17,000 students served by three-week,
  subscription-based program

14
School-to-Careers

• Career development
• Staff development
• Work-based learning
• Parent outreach
• Support systems
• Marketing to employers, educators, parents, and
  community leaders
• Recruiting employers, educators, students,
  parents, and community partners

15
Career Development
16
Staff Development

• Support Team (S-TEAM) Network
• Counselors Network

• Workshops and Conferences
• Employer-Endorsed Curriculum

17
Support Team Network

• Local campus- based interdisciplinary teams who
  are bringing about positive changes by
  encouraging high academic standards with
  real-life applications
• Started with Tech Prep funds, expanded with
  School-to-Careers funds

18
Counselors Network

• Counselors from public schools, colleges, and
  other organizations
• Annual meetings and targeted staff development
• Annual Awards of Counseling Excellence
• Perkins funds through Weatherford College

19
Workshops and Conferences

• One-day events (e.g., Texas Friendly Ambassador,
  Labor Market Trends)
• Conferences (e.g., 2001 Tech Prep/School-to-Career
  s Regional Conference CBIRD 1st International
  Technology Conference)
• In-service training on local campuses
• Coming events www.techprepRGV.com

20
Employer-Endorsed Curriculum Careers in Action

• Work-based curriculum for K-8 students
• Employer-endorsed developed through
  teacher/counselor internships
• TEKS, TAAS, and personal skills taught with
  real-life application activities
• Each lesson includes field trip or classroom
  speaker within the specific career area

21
Careers in Action

• Kinder- Personal and Protective Services
• 1st grade- Business and Marketing
• 2nd grade-Agriculture and Science Technology
• 3rd grade- Art, Communications and Media
• 4th grade- Health Science Technology
• 5th grade- Industrial and Engineering Technology
• 6th grade- Art, Communication and Media
• 7th grade- Health Science Technology
• 8th grade- Industrial and Engineering Technology

22
Work-Based Learning

• Activities giving students opportunities to
• Experience the real world of work
• Learn how academic and work-related skills
  studied in class are used in the workplace

23
Work-Based Learning

• Career awareness
• Career exploration
• Career preparation

24
Career Awareness

• Field Trips
• Career Fairs
• Career Days/Guest Speakers

25
Career Exploration

• Job Shadowing
• Job Rotations

26
Career Preparation

• Internships
• Mentoring
• Cooperative Education
• Apprenticeships

27
Parent Outreach

• Information given to both parents and
  students to help them plan for the future!

• Importance of Academics
• Importance of Work-Based Learning
• Labor Market Information
• Tech Prep Articulation Information

28
Tech Prep

• Career major system
• Six-year curriculum spanning grades 9-14, based
  on Texas Recommended High School Program
• Banked college credits for high school courses,
  many transferring throughout Texas
• Counselor training, academic integration, access
  for all students
• Heart of School-to-Careers system

29
Tech Prep Texas Scholars
Student Recognition Program Developed Locally,
with TBEC Input

• Tech Prep curriculum (State Recommended or
  Distinguished Achievement Plan) in high school
• Career and technology electives, with one or more
  college-level, articulated courses
• Student declares intent
• Tech Prep courses qualify as DAP measures
• Eligible for cash scholarships

30
Rio Grande Valley Tech Prep Statistics
Dropout Rates 1999-2000
31
TAAS Results Grade 10 -12
32
Rio Grande Valley Tech Prep Statistics
1999-2000 Percent Pursuing Higher Education,
33
Benefits of Involvement

• Education reform
• Curriculum integration
• Better-focused students
• Improved student performance
• Community involvement and investment
• Improved labor pool

34
Tech Prep of the Rio Grande Valley, Inc.

• Patricia G. (Pat) Bubb, Executive Director
• Martha Gutierrez, Work-Based Specialist
• Todd Holland, Parent Outreach Specialist
• wwwtechprepRGV.com