Nebraska's economic success depends on its labor force's ability to meet new and emerging technological advancements in order to compete in the international marketplace. These workplace demands are challenging our educational system to create competitive and accountable methods of preparing students for Nebraska's future workplace.
Bulding Nebraska's capacity to train its people for work has become a priority amuong educators, employers, and policy makers. Tech Prep education, as authorized by Congress, provides an incentive for eligible Nebraska educational agencies to implement new, innovative, articulated approaches between secondary and postsecondary (two and four year) education and/or apprenticeships. A blending of school-site and work-site work-based learning opportunities will make it possible for young people to gain the competence, commitment to teamwork, and problem solving skills they will need to meet the challenges of the 21st Century.
Tech Prep education builds and reinforces strong, systematic, comprehensive linkages between nebraska's secondary and postsecondary educational institutions. It combines basic proficiency development in mathematics, science, reading, writing, communications, economics, workplace skills, and technology through applied, contextual academics, and intgrated instruction in a coherent sequence of courses.
Federal funding provides Nebraska's eligible educational agencies with opportunities for the operation of a Tech Prep program of study that combines a minimum of two years of secondary education with a minimum of two years of postsecondary education in a non-duplicative, sequential course of study. The Tech Prep program of study leads to an associate or baccalaureate degree or a postsecondary certificate in a specific career field and leads to placement in appropriate employment or to further education.
For more information, contact Rich Katt, Interim Tech Prep Director, Nebraska Department of Education, 301 Centennial Mall South, Lincoln, NE 68509-4987, e-mail rich.katt@nde.ne.gov, Telephone: 402.471.4808, Fax: 402.471.0117.