Overview

Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) is an education model that integrates high school, college, and career preparation within a seamless program. P-TECH is designed to bridge the gap between secondary education and the workforce. P-TECH schools enable students to earn both a high school diploma and an associate degree (focused on STEM fields) in six years or less, at no cost to families. The model combines rigorous academics, industry-aligned career pathways, and robust partnerships with employers and postsecondary institutions.

Launched in 2011 in Brooklyn, New York, through a collaboration between IBM, the City University of New York (CUNY), and the New York City Department of Education, the P-TECH program has since scaled nationally and globally. P-TECH schools now span across the U.S. and internationally. As of 2025, there were more than 300 P-TECH schools in more than 28 U.S. states, including: New York (initial pilot site), Texas, Maryland, Colorado, Illinois, and California. Internationally, P-TECH operates in Australia, India, Morocco, and Mexico, among other countries.

P-TECH’s success is often credited to its public-private partnerships that focus on:

• High schools aligning curriculum with postsecondary and workforce needs.
• Colleges providing associate degree pathways and faculty support.
• Employers offering mentorships, internships, and work-based learning opportunities.

Together these partnerships enable real-world learning experiences that connect classroom concepts to practical applications; foster diversity in STEM fields by targeting underserved communities; and serve as a model for scaling work-based learning systems that integrate industry input at every stage.

Outcomes

P-TECH has shown measurable success in preparing students for college and the workforce. Outcomes include:

• P-TECH schools report high graduation rates, with some students earning associate degrees ahead of schedule.
• Many students gain industry-recognized certifications.
• Graduates prepared to continue their education at four-year institutions.
• Students have secured internships, apprenticeships, and fulltime positions with employer partners like IBM, Cisco, and others.
• Industry partnerships are a critical part of the P-TECH model and goes beyond simply connecting graduates to jobs. Industry is deeply involved in the program.

Notable P-TECH institutions include:

• P-TECH Rochester in Minnesota: Established in partnership with IBM, the Mayo Clinic, and Rochester Community and Technical College offers pathways in nursing and information technology. Since 2020, it has received grants from the Minnesota state government to support its initiatives.
• Urban Assembly New York Harbor School: Partnering with SUNY Maritime College and the Billion Oyster Project, this school focuses on maritime education and environmental restoration. In 2023, it was part of a consortium that received $2.5 million in funding to enhance its programs.

Funding

P-TECH programs typically rely on a combination of public and private sources for funding. Public funding often includes Federal Title I grants for low-income students and state education funds. Private foundations also play a significant role in supporting these initiatives. Notably:

• Stanley S. Litow P-TECH Scholarship Fund: Administered by the SUNY Impact Foundation, this fund provides annual scholarships to New York State P-TECH graduates who meet specific eligibility requirements, facilitating their transition to four-year SUNY institutions.
• Collaborative funding models have amplified the impact of educational initiatives like P-TECH.

Resources

Association for Career and Technical Education. (2021). CTE Research Review: Exploring the impact of P-TECH model on college and career readiness outcomes in New York City. ACTE Blog. Retrieved January 11, 2025, from https://blog.careertech.org/cte-research-review-exploring-the-impact-of-p-tech-model-on-college-and-career-readiness-outcomes-in-new-york-city

P-TECH: https://www.ptech.org/ [Archived 2024, March 4]

SUNY Impact Foundation: https://sunyimpactfoundation.org/

SUNY Maritime College: https://www.sunymaritime.edu/

IBM. (2020, May 5). IBM Launches Open P-TECH Globally. https://newsroom.ibm.com/2020-05-05-IBM-Launches-Open-P-TECH-Globally-Free-platform-focused-on-workplace-learning-and-skills-will-be-offered-in-English-Portuguese-and-Spanish

Jobs for the Future (JFF). (2021, October 15). Pathways to prosperity framework. Retrieved January 11, 2025, from https://www.jff.org/idea/framework

MDRC. (2023, October). The P-TECH 9-14 school model: Creating pathways to success. Retrieved January 11, 2025, from https://www.mdrc.org/work/publications/p-tech-9-14-pathways-success

North Carolina Public Radio. (2019, January 11). P-TECH early college: A model for industry, K-12, and postsecondary partnership. EdNC. Retrieved January 11, 2025, from https://www.ednc.org/p-tech-early-college-a-model-for-industry-k-12-and-postsecondary-partnership