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Some more resarch on Australia P-TECH

10/8/2018

P-TECH Brochure (Backup PDF copy)

I was looking through the brochure for Australia's P-TECH styled model. I think this paragraph is important:

"Secondary students involved in the P-TECH pilot will be on a pathway to achieve two qualifications. Firstly, their Senior Secondary Certificate of Education, which will feature a STEM related vocational education component. P-TECH students will then extend their studies beyond secondary school to achieve a STEM related diploma, advanced diploma or associate degree."

So it seems that P-TECH students in Australia have the means once they finish school to pursue further education, but they don't actually come out with a "college" diploma.

So the Senior Secondary certificate of Education (SSCE) is what the VCE and VCAL are from my previous post. So SSCE's are awarded for completing grade 11 and 12. Schooling is compulsory until grade 10 so you would get an SSCE for going the "extra" mile.

"In Australia, schooling is compulsory up until Year 10 (approximately age 15-16). Students leaving school at this level usually go into apprenticeships or begin training for a trade. Years 11 and 12, the final two years of secondary school in Australia, are designed to prepare students for higher level entry into training programs or to enter university. (source)"

So it feels like P-TECH Australia plays to this idea that the last 2 years oh highschool are not mandatory.

Australia P-TECH Vs American P-TECH (In Progress...)

10/8/2018

So looking through Australian P-TECH schools, something that keeps coming up is the VCAL, VET, and VCE. It seems like this is something you work towards, the way you work towards an associate's degree in the US.

So here are the terms:

VET: Vocational Education and Training

VCE: Victorian Certificate of Education

VCAL: Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning

"The VCE is awarded to students who successfully complete their secondary education." However, this is only in the state of Victoria. So it seems like the VCE is like a regular high school diploma here.

www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Documents/vet/publications/overviewbrochure.pdf

Here are P-TECH pathways at the NewComb P-TECH school in Australia. It seems like you go from your VCAL or VCE to further education. See Here. View one of the pdfs. (Back up pdf copy)

In Canada, a STEM Academy within a school, for $1.2M

10/8/2018

Windsor-Essex Catholic school students show off STEM academy
School board has spent $1.2 million getting the academy up and running
Dec 01, 2017

Note: This is NOT a P-TECH school, but is a Canadian attempt at a STEM school, something that is internationally recognized as desirable.

"The Catholic school board for Windsor-Essex showed off its new science technology engineering and math (STEM) academy at Holy Names High School Friday.

"The STEM academy was created to give students advanced education in the sciences and to better prepare them for post-secondary education in those fields.

"The newly renovated robotics, chemistry and physics labs give students a chance to do more hands-on work with the disciplines.

"The school board has spent $1.2 million getting the academy up and running. The academy offers 30 credits from grade 9 through 12.

"The board plans to start STEM academies at St. Thomas of Villanova and St. Anne's high schools next year."

Interesting Article on P-TECH's Introduction to Australia

10/8/2018

P-TECH Schools are Unproven and Threaten Public Education (May 25 2015)

This article outlines the author's opinion on why P-TECH schools threaten public education:

1. Lack of evidence/ unproven
2.Narrow curriculum in which students could potentially go into vocational specialization too early
3.School privatization via IBM
4.Schools and students will be held "hostage" to corporate sponsors
5. profit/data over good teaching
6. Privacy issues with corporations having access to student records

"If it is to follow the New York model it will require changes to the Victorian Education Act." So I wonder if that's why they call the schools P-TECH styled.

Interesting points raised.

How Australia PTECH is Different From US Model

9/8/2018

Found an article describing what Australia has changed from the USA model:
Link:www.theeducatoronline.com/au/news/australias-ptech-venture-takes-big-leap-forward/229959

"Federal Education Minister, Simon Birmingham, said the P-TECH model was not “a cut-and-paste” of the US model and that the Coalition was seeking to “take the best bits of that and adapt them to complement the Australian education and schooling context”."

So it seems like they took aspects of the US model and applied certain parts in order to develop Australia's own P-TECH model:

"“In the US, the word ‘college’ means something different. Two-year college is also known as ‘community college’ and four-year college is the equivalent of university. So that’s an example of what we have left out of the Australian model,” he said."

"Below are the five core elements Australia has adopted:

Innovative curriculum: A key aspect of designing the learning program includes the way existing Australian Curriculum and Australian Qualification Framework recognised education and training is sequenced (or ordered) to achieve the best outcomes for students.

Innovative approaches to learning: Partnerships between schools and industry enable innovative approaches to the way learning is delivered; approaches that would not be possible if schools, or industry, acted in isolation.

Industry mentoring and support: The mentor relationship between young people and industry personnel provides continuity of support for students to achieve a post-school qualification.

A post-school qualification: In Australia, it is likely that the achievement of a diploma, advanced diploma or associate degree will involve schools partnering with other education providers (TAFEs/RTOs or universities) to deliver elements of the P-TECH learning programme (either on-site or off-site).

Links to employment: Collaboration between the education and industry sectors strengthens the connection between student learning and the skills that employers need. It improves young people’s prospects of employment, including opportunities for employment with industry partners."

From reading the P-TECH US site, it seems that any school can call themselves p-tech as long as they follow its core values (correct me if I'm wrong, this is my interpretation)

Ivanka Trump: P-tech is pathway to tech jobs of the future

19/7/2018

Video Interview: here (7.58min) (July 19, 2018)

Ivanka Trump sits down with a recent p-TECh graduate to talk about his experience and to talk about making jobs.

Interesting...but I think this is cool to show how this is still in the news.

Rates for Kids who Pursue Degrees vs Jobs After Graduation

18/7/2018

Link: After Six Years, Brooklyn’s P-TECH to Graduate First Class as the Model Expands Worldwide (March 13, 2017)

"With few exceptions, according to IBM and Brooklyn P-TECH officials, the majority of the 97 students in the original fall 2011 cohort are on track to graduate on time or have already graduated with both degrees. Fifty-four finished their high school and associate’s degrees early, as of January (including 18 from the 2012 cohort). Eight took jobs at IBM. About 25 are pursuing a bachelor’s degree, and 15 others are applying to four-year colleges "

Interestingly enough if you look at some of the graduates on the IBM P-TECH page most of them are planning to pursue higher education and not get a job right away (see here)

NY P-TECH Schools Expendiature Reports

17/7/2018

I think this will be useful info. I expect to compile it in a neater way, but I think you will be interested in these numbers.

These are expenditures for some NY P-TECH schools

1. Pathways in Technology Early College High School (this is the school that IBM will ref a lot) - P-Tech: $11,024,598
View Report (2016 -2017)

2. H.E.R.O. High - Health, Education, and Research Occupations High School: $10,250,608
View Report (2016 -2017)

3. City Polytechnic High School of Engineering, Architecture, and Technology:
$8,925,254
View Report (2016 -2017)

4. Inwood Early College for Health and Information Technologies: $6,848,438
View Report (2016 -2017)

5. Manhattan Early College School for Advertising: $7,003,723
View Report (2016 -2017)

6. Energy Tech High School: $9,187,917
View Report (2016 -2017)

AVG spending: $7,706,136

NY P-Tech Schools, Budget and Reports

17/7/2018

Type schools in here to see their budgets and reports.

Looking at a few P-TECH schools: I'll update as I go through

1. Pathways in Technology Early College High School - P-Tech:
Fiscal Year 2019 Budget: $ 5,460,909 View Budget
Demographics (2017): Asian: 3% | Black: 86% | Hispanic: 10% | White: 1%
Student with Special Needs 16%
Quality Report Snapshot (PDF)

2. Health, Education and Research Occupations High School (Focuses on health degrees)
Fiscal Year 2019 Budget: $ 5,246,229 View Budget
Demographics (2016-2017):Asian: 1% | Black: 39% | Hispanic: 57% | White: 1% | Student with Special Needs 20%
Quality Report Snapshot (PDF)

3. City Polytechnic High School of Engineering, Architecture, and Technology:
Fiscal Year 2019 Budget: $3,825,010 View Budget
Demographics (2016-2017): Asian: 6% | Black: 71% | Hispanic: 17% | White: 3% | Student with Special Needs 18% | English Language Learners: 2% Quality Report SnapShot (PDF)

4. Inwood Early College for Health and Information Technologies:
Fiscal Year 2019 Budget: $ 4,429,512 View Budget

Australian Gov's Investment in P-TECH Schools

17/7/2018

Link: Pathways in Technology (P-TECH)

"On 30 May 2016, the Government announced a $4.6 million expansion of the P-TECH pilot to twelve additional sites across Australia. "

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More Australian P-TECH links:

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From Australia's "Why P-TECH?"

The P-TECH styled model offers students studying for their Senior Secondary Certificate an industry supported pathway to a STEM related diploma, advanced diploma or degree. Students then have the option to continue their study at the tertiary level or pursue employment in a STEM related field, including job opportunities with the school’s industry partners. Students participating in a P-TECH styled model study regular high school subjects such as English, science, and mathematics, while also undertaking an advanced STEM learning program with support from the school’s industry partners. Industry support could include: opportunities for students to engage in authentic work-based learning; provision of structured work placements; apprenticeships/traineeships; paid internships; or part time work.

While the P-TECH styled model can be adapted by local education, industry and community partners to suit local circumstances, the overarching aim of a P-TECH styled learning program is to build the technical and non-technical skills students need to succeed in school, further education and work. Throughout the learning program, industry are involved in the design and delivery of learning (both at school and in the workplace). The P-TECH styled learning program matches each student with an industry mentor in years 1-3 of the program and provides opportunities for students to connect their learning to real life applications. Mentors work closely with teaching staff and help guide students through practical projects and problem solving exercises that extend their learning beyond the classroom and build students’ understanding of the world of work.

A P-TECH styled learning program involves an introductory phase to enable young people to connect and engage with the school’s industry partners, and build the foundation skills students will need to succeed in the increasingly rigorous later years of their study. A key focus of the introductory phase is to ignite young people’s interest in STEM and build their understanding of the range of STEM related careers. Following the introductory phase, and with support from an industry mentor and the school’s industry partners, secondary students undertake more formal STEM training as part of a nationally recognised qualification (e.g. Certificate III or IV). This qualification will put them on a pathway to post-school studies at a diploma, advanced diploma or associate degree level that will further strengthen their prospects for employment.

E-TECH School in NY( same as below, but before the issues came about)

17/7/2018

Link: Poughkeepsie's E-TECH puts students on track for college, careers
(May 25, 2017) (notice the date)

A pretty good look on the Poughkeepsie P-TECH School a little over a year before the article came about that they aren't accepting any new students.

"The Poughkeepsie City School District has the highest local rate of economically disadvantaged students at 75 percent. "

"At the state level, New York's P-TECH program is a "public-private partnership" aiming to prepare thousands of students for high-skills jobs in technology, manufacturing, health care and finance, according to the state Education Department. As of 2016, there were 33 New York-based P-TECH partnerships getting state grants.

Poughkeepsie is the only Dutchess County district that receives such funding -- the district was awarded a seven-year, $2.8 million state P-TECH grant in 2014. It will last through 2021."

What does this grant pay for? "support staff and extended learning time salaries, costs incurred by the college and the business partners, as well as professional development and field trip expenses to support our teachers and scholars with expanding their knowledge of specific opportunities within this program"

Future of E-TECH School in NY is Uncertain

13/7/2018

Article: Future of Poughkeepsie's E-TECH program questioned (July 12, 2018)

Very interesting article. Recent too. It goes through a pretty detailed account of what's going on at the school.

This school is an E-TECH (Engineering, Technology, Early College High School) school, but is like P-Tech in that it's a six year program where you earn an associate's degree. Obviously they are not completely alike but the concept is the same.

Interesting because it touches on student's struggling to earn good grades in their college level courses
"Meanwhile, more than half of the students in cohort one were unsuccessful in completing a college course, either withdrawing from it or earning a low grade."
but also some students who have excelled "And Manrique has excelled in the E-TECH program. ".

I feel like it is a good read of the struggles and positives of an early college school.

The school is shutting down this year's cohort to focus on the ones it already has.

IBM Launches P-TECH in Singapore

13/7/2018

Links:
IBM addresses Singapore skills shortage with P-Tech launch (July 9, 2018)
IBM launches P-TECH program in SG with ITE and polytechnics (July 12, 2018)

"IBM has unveiled plans to address an ongoing skills shortage in Singapore, through a pathways in technology initiative targeting early college high-schools across the country.

The first batch of approximately 40 students will enter the programme in January 2019, with that number to rise to 120 per batch over the coming years."

ADK P-TECH -- Six Year Scope and Sequence

3/7/2018

A P-TECH Six Year Scope and Sequence (thanks to ADK P-TECH)
(backup PDF copy)

Course Options:

Mechanical Technology
Electrical Technology - Electronics
Computer Information Systems
Computer Technology
Wind Energy and Turbine Technology
Renewable Energy Technologies
Enviromental Technologies

P-TECH School in NY has Multiple Associate Degrees

3/7/2018

Link: www.hfmboces.org/programs-services/ptech/

File: Info Brochure for Students (MUST READ!) {backup PDF} {test}

Associate degrees offered by FMCC that students can earn through PTECH:
-Business Accounting
-Business Administration
-Business Technology and Applications
-Electrical Technology
-Computer Information Systems
-Computer Networking
-Computer Technology
-Health Information Records Management
-Health Studies
-Radiologic Technology

Idaho School for rural Idaho High Schoolers modelled after P-TECH schools looses funding

3/7/2018

Article: Idaho educators say farewell to PTECH program for high-schoolers
(June 25, 2018)

As June winds to a close, so does PTECH, or the Pathways to Early Career High School program, a four-year-old effort that aimed to help rural Idaho students continue their education after high school graduation.

The program won support in 2014 from the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Family Foundation, which Millar estimates spent about $7 million to help PTECH get off the ground. Millar – and the foundation – had planned to supplement, and eventually operate, the program with financial help from cooperating companies nearby. When Millar, PTECH’s executive director, couldn’t secure that corporate support, he said, the JKAF foundation eventually decided to pull the plug effective June 30. About 50 students who were already enrolled in PTECH-supported programs will be able to continue over the next two years to complete their work, Millar said.

Cost of P-TECH

25/6/2018

Article: Early college programs hold promise, but are costly
(January 21, 2017)

"Under a plan unveiled last week by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, such programs would expand to at least 10 other schools next year thanks to an extra
$5.3 million in state funds.

By the 2019-20 school year, the last year of the first cohort's grant period, P-Tech will have cost the state nearly $42 million. And that's just for one cohort."

""In some ways it would almost be better not to enroll another cohort if you're not sure the funding will last, because you don't want to promise kids something and then take it away halfway through," said Watson. "It is a very expensive program. It's a college degree for every student. That's a significant investment. There's no doubt about it.""

"At first, Laboy did not like the P-Tech program... For starters, it was hard. Teachers granted him more independence than he was used to. They didn't chase him down to hand in his work on time. And they focused much more on collaborative, hands-on learning. He couldn't just sit back and wait for them to teach him. He had to work with other classmates on "real-life" projects, and then present on what they had learned. "I really like it now," he said." (student experience)

Student's View of P-TECH

25/6/2018

Article "Turmoil Behind The Scenes At A Nationally Lauded High School"
(March 14, 2016)

"But five years in, a year before the first full graduating class of the original school is expected, the model is showing signs of growing pains. Many of its students failed college courses early on, and internal emails obtained by NPR reveal disagreements across the many parties to this partnership over how best to serve those students.

"P-TECH was designed to address a set of familiar problems: Fewer than 30 percent of students who begin community college in the U.S. finish their two-year degrees in three years. Those who don't are largely relegated to entry-level jobs in the low-wage service sector, while the nation faces a shortage of people qualified for well-paying technical jobs."

About ADK (a P-TECH school that's closing)

22/6/2018

ADK P-Tech ending; several parents frustrated, concerned

Link to school: adkptech.com