The design for Tech Prep curriculum begins at the state level with workplace professionals and educators teaming up to determine what technical and academic skills are necessary at the high school and the college level. These competency profiles form the core of courses of study that emphasize hands-on technical skills instruction and contextual academics.
Students can earn college credit for college level work they complete in high school.
Each Tech Prep program goes through a number of stages of development prior to becoming a program. Such factors as the labor market, business capacity, and if the jobs are high tech are taken into consideration. Second a futuring panel made up of business and industry professionals convene and determines the competencies that will be delivered. Then the document is reviewed by local employers and educators in a local validation. Lastly, instructional teams come together to determine classroom activities and needed professional development .