Q: Is Career Pathways/Tech Prep only designed for the person who does not intend to go to a four-year university?

A: Career Pathways/Tech Prep is designed to support all academic levels. It supports the student who intends to go to work upon graduation from high school; the student who intends to get an associates or technical degree or certificate; the student who intends to continue their education for a baccalaureate degree or higher.

Q: My child isn’t ready to make career decisions in the eighth or ninth grade. Why are you trying to box my kids in?

A: It is not boxing a child in to encourage them to take more rigorous academic courses or to teach them to use applied strategies that are effective with a variety of learning styles. We are starting a thought process that will help them be prepared for whatever they decide to do in the future.  By the way, a recent poll of eighth graders showed that 71% of them had either already decided on a career or had narrowed the choice between two or three careers.

Q: Why are you trying to lock my child into a career pathway that he or she can’t change?

A: Career Pathways/Tech Prep doesn’t lock anyone into anything. It simply lays out a plan for each child that can be readily changed at any point. Career Pathways/Tech Prep also offers multiple exit points.

Q: Why are you pushing Career Pathways/Tech Prep when everyone knows that the only sure road to success is a four-year college degree?

A: Today, 80 percent of the good jobs available to graduates are more likely to require two years – not four years – of college. A four-year degree no longer guarantees success in life. Even so, Career Pathways/Tech Prep still prepares one for continuation on toward a four-year or higher degree.

Q: I have a high school diploma. Why isn’t that good enough for my kid?

A: Because the workplace has changed, one can no longer get a good job with only a high school education.  Only 10% of the jobs in 2007 will be for unskilled labor.

Q: Isn’t Career Pathways/Tech Prep just warmed over vocational education with a fancy new name?

A: If you look at the Career Pathways/Tech Prep curriculum lined up against the "college prep" curriculum you will see that there is not a lot of difference. In reality, they are both college prep.

Q: Aren’t you just trying to "track" my kid into some program for dummies?

A: Career Pathways/Tech Prep actually eliminates the tracking system. It offers all kids the chance to achieve to their fullest potential. Career Pathways/Tech Prep eliminates the tracking system and maintains the latitude to prepare any student to reach whatever educational level he or she chooses.

Q: Are these applied courses just "dumbed down" versions of what you teach college prep kids?

A: Again, lay the Career Pathways/Tech Prep curriculum and the college prep curriculum side-by-side and you will quickly see they are at least equal, and in some cases the Career Pathways/Tech Prep curriculum is more difficult.

Q: Who says there will be jobs for my kid when he or she finishes the Career Pathways/Tech Prep program?

A: The United States Department of Labor, for one. Labor Department data shows that there will be jobs for Career Pathways/Tech Prep graduates.  As mentioned earlier, by 2007, 70% of all jobs will require more than a high school diploma but less than a four year degree.  Only 20% of all jobs will require four or more years of college.  That leaves just 10% of all jobs for those with a high school diploma or less.

Q: How does one "sign up" for Career Pathways/Tech Prep?

A:  There is no special application to enroll in Career Pathways/Tech Prep classes.  Students apply for the technical classes that give PTEC or St. Petersburg College articulated credit through the regular scheduling process at their school.  Some courses or programs may require teacher or counselor approval.  In the final semester of high school, students have their school records clerk  fill out the credit form found on this website.  The postsecondary school will handle the credit award.

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