Learn about P-TECH schools

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P-TECH 9-14 School Model is a pioneering education reform initiative created by IBM, to prepare young people with the academic, technical and professional skills required for 21st Century Jobs and ongoing education.

How it works

P-TECH represents the best of what public-private partnerships can look like, with students taking high school and college coursework simultaneously and engaging in industry-guided workforce development.


Mission

A new model of public education, called P-TECH, is helping close the gap between young people’s ambitions for college and careers and the specific skills needed by employers in high-growth industries.

P-TECH is a public education reform model focused on college attainment and career readiness. P-TECH schools span grades 9-14 and enable students to earn both a high school diploma and a no-cost, two-year postsecondary degree in a STEM field. Students participate in a range of workplace experiences, including mentorship, worksite visits and paid internships. Upon graduation, students have the academic and professional skills required to either continue their education in a four-year postsecondary institution or enter into entry-level careers in IT, healthcare, advanced manufacturing and other competitive fields. While the P-TECH Model encompasses six years, students are able to move at their own pace, enabling some to accelerate through the model in as little as four years. P-TECH serves students from primarily underserved backgrounds, with no testing or grade requirements.

P-TECH is a powerful demonstration of public-private partnership designed to help all students achieve at the highest levels.