Round Rock ISD : Articulated Credit / Tech Prep Program

Articulated / Tech Prep Program

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Tech Prep is designed to prepare students for the future. Emphasis is placed on higher-level academic courses taken in conjunction with career and technology education courses. Tech Prep focuses on academic, technical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills to prepare students to become qualified technicians in America's highly competitive work force. The abstract learning process also prepares students for advanced course work required at the post-secondary level. Through Tech Prep students are enrolled in a course of study that prepares them to obtain an associate degree, a two-year vocational certificate, or to enter the work force better prepared to be competent employees.

Articulation agreements with community colleges make it possible for students to earn college credit for courses successfully completed in high school. These credits are held in escrow until the student successfully completes the requirements of the articulating college. The credits held in escrow are then placed on the student's transcript, free of charge. To participate in Tech Prep, students must be enrolled in a coherent sequence of courses for a particular Tech Prep program.

Students in Tech Prep programs can earn college credit through:

Content-enhanced articulated courses
Dual Credit Courses
College Board Advanced Placement (AP)

Students in Tech Prep programs can receive Advanced Measures for Graduation if they are graduating on the Distinguished Achievement or the Summa Cum Laude Plans.

Students must complete the course requirements and receive any combination of four of the following advanced measures: (taken from the course catalog pg. 24)

1. Original research/project:
a. Judged by a panel of professionals in the field that is the focus of the project or

b. Conducted under the direction of mentor(s) and reported to an appropriate audience done by professionals in the arts, sciences, business, industry, or community service

2. Test Data
a. A score of 3 or above on a College Board AP examination

b. A score of 4 or above on an IB examination

c. A score on the PSAT that qualifies a student for recognition as a Commended Scholar or higher by the national merit Scholarship Corporation; as part of the National Hispanic Scholar Program of the College Board, or as a part of the national Achievement Scholarship Program. The PSAT score may count as only one advance measure regardless of the number of honors received by the student

d. College academic courses and tech-prep articulate & college courses with a grade of 3.0 or higher.

3. College Credit Courses:
a. A grade of B or higher on courses that count for college credit such as Dual Credit, concurrent enrollment, and tech-prep articulated courses.