Grant Will Strengthen Applied Academics Offerings
To Teachers, Promote Career Planning for Students

CONTACT: KATHERINE ZORN, EXT. 2459

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 11/16/2001
(By Lisa Garrett)

PENDLETON --- A recent $181,446 grant from the S.C. Department of Education will allow the Partnership for Academic and Career Education office to strengthen its applied academics offerings to area teachers and to promote mid-level and technical career planning for high school students.

PACE, based at Tri-County Technical College, is a consortium which helps to facilitate the development of Tech Prep (PREParation for TECHnologies)/School-to-Work programs in the tri-county area. Tech Prep/School-to-Work programs are designed to provide academic courses tied to the real world, structured work experience, career exploration and seamless transition between secondary and postsecondary levels of education.

"This grant helps with those outreach activities and to strengthen applied academics," said Katherine Zorn, director of PACE. "It also intensifies career guidance activities at the high school level. It's very important for students to choose a career pathway and to be aware of what they need do to prepare academically for that career. Many may not need a four-year degree in their chosen profession. Students need to be aware of the many careers in the mid-level technology fields. The grant helps us to get that message across."

Specifically, the funds will be used as follows:
Tech Prep Title I -- $94,038 -- The majority of this money goes toward technical assistance and staff development for educators and for tech prep curriculum and guidance materials. For the past 15 years, local teachers and counselors have participated in PACE's Summer Institute, a two-week intensive course held on the campus. The course focuses on tech prep, school-to-work, career guidance, and the world of work.

Tech Prep Title I Postsecondary – Tri-County uses its portion of these funds for staff development, curriculum development, and travel that advances the tech prep initiative. It also supports articulation agreements, such as Technical Advanced Placement, whereby qualified high school seniors can earn college credit and or advanced standing based on demonstrated college-level competencies. The funds also will promote mid-level technology career planning for 11th and 12th graders and Tri-County students.

Tech Prep Title I Secondary -- $26,857 – These funds will be used to develop tech prep-related curriculum materials targeted at grades 7 – 12. The money also will fund a workshop for tech prep secondary school teachers on applied methodologies, career development, interdisciplinary instruction and teachers in the workplace.

Career Specialist and School-to-Work Staff Development – This award supports the career specialist position at Tri-County. The career specialist works with all seven school districts and the College on career counseling, curriculum, and school-to-work issues and developing career and curriculum-related materials for middle and highs schools.

More than a decade ago this partnership 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 was formed.
-30-