P-TECH program set for district
WATERVLIET, N.Y. » Officials from Watervliet City School District said they are excited the district was recently chosen as one of six winners in the fourth round of the state Pathways in Technology Early College High School (PTECH) partnership awards.
According to a news release from Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office, these newly awarded public-private educational partnerships add to the growing number of New York high school students currently preparing for high-skill jobs in technology, manufacturing and healthcare-related fields.
Students will earn an associate degree at no cost to their families and will be first in line for jobs with participating companies when they graduate.
The New York State Pathways in Technology Early College High School partnership initiative was initially announced as part of the governor’s 2013-14 Executive Bud-
get and receives additional support through the state Education Department. The public-private initiative was launched in partnership with IBM, which helped create the program and is providing tools, training and support to each participating school.
“I am excited to be able to officially announce that our district is a primary partner in a new Capital Region Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) program that will be housed at Watervliet Jr./Sr. High School starting in September,” said Watervliet City Schools Superintendent Lori Chaplin in a superintendent’s blog posted on the district’s website. “Our P-TECH venture, which includes the Capital Region BOCES, the Mohonasen school district, Hudson Valley and Schenectady County community colleges and several local businesses, is one of six partnerships to receive a P-TECH grant from the state this year.
“Through the new PTECH program, students will be able to earn their Regents diploma and an associate degree in information technology and cyber security free of charge from either Hudson Valley or Schenectady County Community College in four to six years. After successfully completing the program, graduates can choose to enter the workforce in
the lucrative and growing tech fields, or continue their education at a four-year college.”
The business partners connecting with Watervliet school district will include Dell, Cisco, GreaneTree Technology, MVP Health Care, Liniym, and AlbanyCanCode.
“This nation-leading program is transforming our education system by providing students the tools and experience they need to succeed in the competitive global workforce,” Cuomo said in his news release. “These P-TECH awards are enabling New York’s young, bright minds to develop and grow, and I am proud to support these innovative partnerships as they prepare the next generation of leaders for the opportunities of the future.”
“These newly awarded public-private educational partnerships add to the growing number of New York high school students currently preparing for high- skill jobs in technology, manufacturing and healthcare-related fields,” added Assemblyman John
McDonald III, D- Cohoes, in a recent email about the program. “This program targets the importance of a college education while also focusing in on the critical need to provide students with a career and job after graduation.”
District officials said the new P-TECH is open to incoming ninth- grade students from Watervliet and neighboring school districts within the Capital Region BOCES area.