FAQ

Pathways Tech CCTE is a brand new vision in vocational career and technical Christian education for high school students--a vision that is soon to become real in the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania area. The school has moved effectively through the organizational and planning stages and is entering the establishment stage. Everyone involved with Pathways is excited about what God is going to do and what He has already accomplished. God has sent talented Christians with multiple years of vocational experience and industry certifications seeking teaching positions in various vocational career programs. Parents are watching and waiting, anticipating enrolling their children as students. Leaders with impressive administrative backgrounds, credentials and abilities have volunteered to assist and help with planning and creation. We know that local businesses and Churches are watching with great hope and interest. There are many Christians praying for this ministry to happen.

Although there are many great Christian schools throughout our nation that offer high standards in academic training for high school students, there is a void of Christian high schools that offer vocational technical career training. The hands-on student that wants this kind of training faces the option of enrolling in a public vocational technical high school, or attending a post-secondary trade school following high school graduation. Pathways Tech CCTE (Christian Career and Technical Education) is prepared to meet this need by providing high school students with the opportunity to obtain state-of-the-art career training integrated with, and solidly based on, Christian moral and ethical standards.

We believe that the model school that is being created in the Harrisburg area will become an inspiration to groups in other locations that are drawn by God to begin this kind of Christian vocational education in their areas. Pathways Tech administration and staff will provide assistance to other Christian career and technical schools that will continue to be created across the State of Pennsylvania and that will ultimately spread State-by-State across our country and to the nations!

The first Pathways Tech CCTE location will be in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It will serve students from Cumberland, Dauphin, Lebanon, Perry, and York Counties. We are pursuing a facility that will accommodate the specifications for various trade programs, such as: Audio & Video Media Arts, Automotive Trades, Building Trades, Commercial Art & Graphic Arts, Christian Ministries, Computer Technologies, Cosmetology, Culinary Trades, Health Occupations, Law Enforcement, and Horticulture, to name the most prevalent. We believe that the Lord will enable us to acquire a building and will make way for the finances and volunteers to help renovate the facility. We trust that He will provide the ways and means to acquire the appropriate faculty and staff, obtain equipment and maintain the school.

Pathways Tech CCTE is registered with the State as a non-profit, non-stock corporation. The Articles of Incorporation were filed with and approved by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania April 16, 2007. The school ministry received federal tax exempt status as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, retroactive to April 16, 2007. Registration with the PA Dept. of Education (PDE) will be filed upon obtaining a facility. We have a volunteer Administrative Director who has 22+ years experience in public vocational-technical education and six years experience as a former teacher in a Christian high school. Additionally, she possesses the appropriate vocational administrative certifications with the State. Together with others who have come forward to join Pathways Tech CCTE, this ministry intends to move forward with the Lord's leading. Pathways has partnered with SevenStar Academy AND Alpha-Omega Switched-Online for Biblically-integrated online academics to be offered as choices for academic curricula if desired. Pathways is a member of ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International) and was recently approved as an affiliate candidate school with Renewanation (visit their website at www.renewanation.com). PDE requires that a Christian school have a minimum of five (5) students from two (2) families who will be taking both the vocational training and the academics in order to register with the State as a school that awards a diploma upon completion. We look forward to obtaining a facility, registering with PDE, establishing the programs, and registering students.

Pathways is currently planning to open with a minimum of 12 initial vocational programs to include:

Pathways Tech CCTE will accept students ready for high school grades 10-12, as our programs will be developed for three levels. Interested students must complete an application packet that will require them to research and answer questions about two vocational career programs that they would consider choosing. We believe that steps to insure appropriate placement help to guarantee vocational success for each student. Follow-up student interviews and counseling will also be part of the application process. Exploration opportunities will be available for students as programs become available. All parents and students must understand and agree to the requirement that all students are expected to participate in and complete the Christian Bible-based curriculum, Biblical projects, and Christian community outreach and service activities that will be required by all programs and incorporated into the final grade average for all programs. Students with prior disciplinary infractions transferring from other schools will be expected to agree to a "behavior contract" before acceptance into a program. All students are welcome who agree and adhere to the aforementioned requirements. Pathways Tech CCTE is an equal opportunity education institution and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex and handicap in its activities and programs.

NOTE: Adult students that would wish to enroll during high school sessions will be accepted according to available space in programs and must abide by all the same requirements as the high school students. Additionally, adult students will be required to provide satisfactory clearances, specifically Form FO-253 (FBI Fingerprint Record) and Form SP4-164 (Criminal Background Check) in accordance with Act 34 enacted by the Pennsylvania General Assembly, as well as the Child Abuse History Clearance form that must be completed.

When investigating tuitions charged by Christian high schools in the Harrisburg area, it was determined that the average full-day, full-time student would pay annual tuition of between $4000 and $7000+. Therefore, it was approved that the tuition for the half-day program session of vocational training at Pathways Tech CCTE in comparison will be $3500 annually. In addition to tuition, students will be responsible to purchase uniforms, special equipment and individual supplies appropriate to the selected vocational program. For instance, Cosmetology students will need to purchase the required uniforms, the Cosmetology training kit, the textbook and appropriate ongoing supplies. Pathways Tech CCTE anticipates offering student scholarships as funds are available.

The tuition for online academics will be an additional cost to be determined by the number of courses taken and the provider chosen. Pathways Tech CCTE has partnered with two vendors offering Biblically-based, accredited academics aligned to national standards.

It must be realized that it is extremely expensive to provide vocational training in contrast to traditional academic training. One must consider the cost for the specially designed facility requirements, the equipment, the supplies, and the specialized instructional team members that are needed. Therefore, in addition to tuition from students, it is imperative that we receive additional financial support from individuals, businesses, Churches, and other Christian organizations.

7. Will transportation be provided by Pathways Tech CCTE?

Parents should contact their public school sending district to determine what transportation accommodations are available for resident students who attend non-public schools. For students who already attend an academic Christian high school, partnership arrangements will be sought to arrange schedules for 1/2 day academics at the Christian high school and 1/2 day vocational training at Pathways Tech CCTE. Transportation for these students will need to be arranged. Students who drive with their parents’ permission, and obtain a parking permit through Pathways Tech CCTE according to proper procedure (taking into account parking space that will be available) will be permitted to drive and park at the school. It will ultimately be parental responsibility for student transportation.

PDE mandates that Pathways Tech CCTE provide an academic curriculum to be compliant with state graduation requirements. Pathways will be offering Biblically-integrated online academics through a partnership with SevenStar Academy and a partnership with Alpha-Omega Switched-Online (Ignitia). Students will be able to obtain the required academics as needed on an individual basis with the academic support of Pathways Tech academic lab instructors. Vocational instructors will reinforce the academic learning process by integrating academic concepts into the vocational lesson plans. As needed, students will be scheduled outside of the vocational session to accomplish the academics and/or academic support. Academics will be a vital part of the curriculum at Pathways Tech CCTE but will not be offered using the "traditional" model. The online academics are also planned as an outreach to students who need to make up courses through summer school and for adults seeking to obtain a GED.

ALL students are welcome to attend Pathways Tech CCTE. Students with special needs who may have problems with academic subjects often excel in the setting of hands-on vocational training. Individualized Educational Plans will be reviewed and Specially Designed Instructions will be determined to fit the vocational training and setting. Specific adaptations will be determined and followed by teachers and support staff who will be trained to properly implement these adaptations consistently. Admissions representatives will work with the potential student and the parents to determine an appropriate vocational selection based on the student’s interests, talents and potential for career placement.