As New York fine-tunes its plan for the early college high schools, the model is gaining momentum in other states.
There are 16 public-private partnerships in New York that are developing six-year programs where students will earn both a high school diploma and an associate degree. The programs, known as P-TECH or pathways in technology early college high schools, focus on giving students an edge when competing for high-skill jobs in technology, manufacturing and health care.
New York's aim is to reach students who are "non-traditional college-goers,” those who may not have thought of themselves as college students, said Robin Willner, director of the leadership council for New York state's P-TECH schools.
"We want to let those kids know there's something you can do that's exciting," Willner said. "There's a new opportunity for you."
In the Albany region, three P-TECH schools will focus on manufacturing and clean technologies and sustainable industries. A partnership between computer chip manufacturer GlobalFoundries, SUNY Adirondack and a regional K-12 consortium led by Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex BOCES is centered on manufacturing. A second partnership is focused on advanced manufacturing. The partners include the Center for Economic Growth, GE Healthcare, Regeneron, Hudson Valley Community College and a regional K-12 consortium led by the Questar III BOCES.
The Clean Technologies and Sustainable Industries Early College High School that's ongoing is being expanded under the P-TECH program. GlobalFoundries, Cisco, TRC, Hudson Valley Community College, and a regional consortium led by the Ballston Spa Central School District is expanding the high school at Hudson Valley's TEC-SMART campus in Malta, NY.
The 16 public-private partnerships will focus on different industries, but will all be about redesigning the transition between secondary and post-secondary education.
"What’s exciting is we're looking at real jobs and the skills required and mapping backward to create the high school curriculum," Willner said.
Courses will likely include project-based learning, career exploration and college prerequisites. One principal for a P-TECH school said the environment will be much more 'Google' than 'school.'
Business have been very responsive to the process, Willner said. Some are offering clarity on the skills they need in workers and others are hosting faculty and planning teams.
The 16 schools are scheduled to open this fall. All of the 16 schools are receiving more applications than they'll be able to accept, Willner said. Some of the programs will accept between 100 and 120 students. Others will enroll between 40 and 60 students.
At the same time, the state is getting ready to put out a request for proposals for a second cohort because of additional funding in the state budget, Willner said.
Across the nation, other states are launching similar programs.
Last week, Connecticut governor Dannel Molloy announced the state would open its first P-TECH school this fall in Norwalk. Students from the P-TECH school in Connecticut will graduate in six years with a high school diploma and an associate degree in applied science.
Initiatives to rethink the high school experience and offer additional tracks to high school and college completion, like P-TECH, are getting a boost from federal funding.
The U.S. Department of Labor named recipients of $107 million in Youth CareerConnect funding Monday. The New York City Department of Education will receive $6.9 million to fund two early college high schools and expand apprenticeship opportunities for students. The Board of Education in Buffalo, NY, received $3.8 million.