PACE Receives $274,126 Grant from Department of Education

CONTACT: REBECCA EIDSON, EXT. 2456

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 9/7/99
(By Lisa Garrett)

PENDLETON --- A recent $274,126 grant from the S.C. Department of Education will allow the Partnership for Academic and Career Education (PACE) to continue to develop tech prep programs and school-to-work initiatives at the College and in the school districts, along with funding teacher training institutes and staff and curriculum development materials to advance tech prep projects.

PACE, based at Tri-County Technical College, is a consortium which helps to development the Tech Prep (PREParation for TECHnologies)/School to Work program in the tri-county area. More than a decade ago, this partnership was formed between the seven school districts of Anderson, Oconee and Pickens counties, Tri-County Technical College, business and industry partners, the Anderson County Business and Education Partnership and Clemson University.

Tech Prep/School to Work programs provide academic courses tied to the real world, structured work experience, career exploration and a seamless transition between secondary and postsecondary levels of education.

A majority of the grant, $185,198, goes directly to the school districts for staff development and for tech prep curriculum and guidance materials.

Of the total grant, $24,644 will fund three teacher training institutes: Communication for the Workplace, Math for the Technologies, and new expanded courses in the applied sciences for biology, chemistry and physics teachers. During these institutes, which are open to secondary teachers of tech prep students and to counselors, along with Tri-County Tech faculty, participants learn to use the hands-on curriculum.

Tri-County Tech will use $28,685 of the grant for staff development, curriculum development, and travel to advance the tech prep initiative and for release time for instructors to participate in the tech prep and school-to-work activities.

The remainder of the grant will be applied toward the College's career specialist and related staff development. This spring a workshop, titled Your Community's New Workplace, will be offered to educate counselors and career specialists on the changing trends in industry and the global economy.
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