P-TECH
Maryland’s P-TECH program provides six-year pathways from high school to career, at no cost, to cohorts of students in the state’s most economically underperforming areas.
THE PROGRAM’S ROOTS
New York was the first state to pilot P-TECH in 2011 with IBM as a co-founder. This original program expanded to span Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Rhode Island, and even Australia and is expected to grow to more than 100 schools by the end of the year.
The first graduating cohort was in 2018, across four cities, with scholars receiving their associates degrees in STEM in six years or less—more than four times the U.S. on-time graduation average for all students in community college. Degrees can be obtained in applied science, engineering, computers, and other STEM disciplines in order to prepare students for “new collar” positions.
Since its inception in 2011, more than 400 business partners have forged relationships in participating states to prepare graduates for the workforce.
MARYLAND’S INVOLVEMENT
Maryland launched its P-TECH program during the 2016-2017 school year at Carver High School and Paul Laurence High School. At the start of the 2018 school year, it will have expanded to five other schools in the state. The P-TECH Act of 2017 supports program expansion in Maryland through a competitive grant process administered by the Maryland State Department of Education.
The Maryland Chamber Foundation is dedicated to improving education and workforce development for sustained growth in the state. The Foundation also focuses on workforce best practices and partnerships between businesses and schools, particularly in underserved communities. The P-TECH program serves all students, including those from low-income families, first-generation college students, students with disabilities, English language learners and students of color. Maryland looks for replicated success from the first class of graduates to help improve job readiness in the state.
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The Maryland Chamber Foundation supports sustainable solutions that drive Maryland’s future economy including: talent, education, innovation, economic diversity, infrastructure, business climate, governance and quality of life.
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