STUDENT SERVICES

PATHWAYS TECH CCTE
LOOKS FORWARD TO SERVICING STUDENTS
FROM VARIOUS EDUCATIONAL SCENARIOS

1.  HOMESCHOOLERS

2.  HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ATTENDING A CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

3.  STUDENTS ATTENDING CYBER OR CHARTER SCHOOLS

4. STUDENTS AT PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS & PUBLIC VO-TECHS

5. STUDENT DROP-OUTS AND STUDENT DROP-INS

6. ADULT STUDENTS FOR TRAINING OR RE-TRAINING

HOMESCHOOLERS

Home-schooled students receiving academic training at home may attend a half-day vocational program or a vocational elective at Pathways Tech CCTE.  Parents are also welcome to supplement the student's academic training by enrolling in any of the academic courses offered through online academics provided to Pathways Tech CCTE through partnerships with SevenStar Academy and Alpha-Omega Switched-Online.

 Stats:

• The 2005-06 total for home education students in Pennsylvania was 22,412.
  The total was comprised of 11,583 males and 10,829 females.
• In 2005-2006 two local counties in Pennsylvania statistically contained the most homeschoolers: 
• Lancaster  County – The highest in the state with 2,605 total homeschool students.
• York – The second highest in the state with 1,606 total homeschool students.
• In 2005-2006 Cumberland County reported 313 homeschoolers ages 12-18, 298 ages 5-11.
• In 2005-2006 Dauphin County reported 241 homeschoolers ages 12-18,
  188 ages 5-11.
• In 2005-2006 Perry County and Lebanon County each reported between 251-500 homeschool students.

Public Vo-Tech Downside:

• Homeschool students have difficulty enrolling in public Vo Tech schools.
• Although no conflict over homeschool access to public Vo Tech schools has reached the courts or even been appealed to the State Board of Education, homeschool parents report receiving initial rebuffs from their local school district or Vo Tech when attempting to homeschool half days and send high school students the other half day to public Vo Tech schools to learn a trade.
• In 2005-06 there were 345 school districts (68.9%), up from 245, that allowed home education students to participate in curricular programs.
• Act 67 of 2005 amended the home education law of Pennsylvania.  The new law allows home-educated students to participate in the school district activities that are subject to the provisions of Sec. 511 of the School Code.  These activities include clubs, musical ensembles, athletics (such as varsity sports), and theatrical productions and may include other activities related to the school program.  The school board may develop or amend current policies on these activities, but local policies may not conflict with Act 67 of 2005.
• The school district where homeschoolers reside has the discretion to make school curricular courses available to home-educated students. Many school districts have established a written policy on participation of homeschooled students in curricular programs, such as science classes, computer labs, and foreign language courses. Homeschoolers must contact their local school district for this information. It must be remembered, however, that school districts are not required to allow home-educated students to participate in curricular courses.
• Often, when a homeschool student is accepted at a public Vo Tech, sending school quotas have been filled and the homeschool student does not obtain the career program of choice as the more desired programs are already filled.
• There have been negative reports from many homeschoolers who have attended a public Vo Tech about lack of discipline, teachers who don’t care, drugs, poor attitudes by students, and so on.
• The peer group at the average public Vo Tech school may actually be worse than the peer group at the average public high school.

Other Homeschool Alternatives for Vocational or Technical Training.

• Vocational trade skills taught by parents.
• Vocational trade skills learned through correspondence course.
• Apprenticeships - They are not easy to find. Many start out as a volunteer doing "grunt work".
• Attend a Trade School after completing high school.
• Use Summer Programs for Homeschoolers

CONCLUSION FOR HOMESCHOOLERS

We have a large group of homeschool students that are looking for an alternative for vocational career and technical high school training.
PATHWAYS TECH CCTE
will fill the need spiritually and vocationally.

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
ATTENDING A CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Stats:

• Christian Schools in the area are averaging about 100 students in the high school grades 10-12.
• Total students average 200-450 at area Christian Schools.
• Christian Schools are facing enrollment problems, especially with the current problems in the economy.
• Many Christian Schools are reporting a loss of some students due to enrolling at a public Vo Tech.

 
Public Vo Tech Downside Experienced by Former Christian School Students:

• Public Vo Tech schools seem to still be a dumping ground where the sending school districts easily get rid of and send troubled students that the sending school does not want.
• A new culture is experienced.
• Peer groups in control are usually not Christian oriented.
• A new lowered level of safety is experienced.
• Embedded Christian values are often lost.
• Christian values are not taught or supported at a public school.
• Parents do not have the same level of participation.
• Although there are many great public school teachers, not all teachers are Christians or practicing Christians.  Vocational Instructors will spend a lot of time with the students, taking on a “parent” image to be modeled by the student.
• Morality is not an issue and is not addressed by any type of discipline or guidance.
• In some cases, the Christian student is labeled as a problem or even a “bully” if Christian values are practiced and/or shared by the Christian student and are not compromised when they conflict with worldly values generally accepted by the public school system.
• Conflict of Christian Events
• Often public school events are scheduled on Wednesday evenings and weekends conflicting with most normal Church events, such as Youth Group activities and Church family services.
• Sacred Christian holidays are not acknowledged through participation or celebration at public schools.  Even the names of the holidays have been changed to ignore the Christian implication:  Winter Break/Spring Break.

 
CONCLUSION FOR CHRISTIAN SCHOOL STUDENTS

  For Christian high school students
that are looking for an alternative
for vocational career and technical high school training that will support the Christian values that have been embedded through the Christian School
PATHWAYS TECH CCTE
has the answer.

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STUDENTS AT CYBER OR CHARTER SCHOOLS

Stats:

• Charter Schools were established by Act 22 in 1997.
• In the eighth year of operation, 117 Charter schools were operating in Pennsylvania.
• Eleven of the Charter Schools were Cyber Charter Schools representing an enrollment of nearly 50,000 students.
• Cyber Charter Schools are approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
• Cyber Charter Schools are created and controlled by parents, teachers, community leaders, and colleges or universities.
• Charter Schools operate free from many educational mandates, except for those concerning nondiscrimination, health and safety and accountability.
• Charter Schools offer alternatives in education using strategies that may save money and improve student performance.

 Why are Parents Choosing Charter Schools?

• Safety is usually the #1 reason.
• Discipline.  More orderly schools.
• Dress code.
• Individual attention.
• Smaller classes.
• Specific unmet academic or physical needs.
• Quality of education in general.
• Communication from the school to the parents, particularly returned phone calls.
• More parental interaction regarding their child's education.

 CONCLUSION FOR
CYBER/CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENTS

PATHWAYS TECH CCTE
will not only meet and compete
by establishing these same parental values, but will additionally promote moral and ethical standards
and provide specific vocational trade training. 
Parents will obtain the best
educational scenario for their children
academically, vocationally, and spiritually.

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Public school students could attend the public school in their district for academics (arranging their schedule for half-day academics) and then attend Pathways Tech CCTE for training in a vocational program the other half-day.  Parents are also welcome to supplement the student's academic training by enrolling in any of the academic courses offered through online academics provided to Pathways Tech CCTE through partnerships with SevenStar Academy and Alpha-Omega Switched-Online.

Stats:  (According to 2006-2007 data from the U.S. Department of Education)

• The total number of CTE students in Pennsylvania was 210,149 made up of the following:
• Secondary – 112,933
• Postsecondary – 78,987
• Adult - 18,229
• CTE (Career & Technical Education) in Pennsylvania is delivered through 85 regional technology centers and over 300 comprehensive high schools.
• Of the regional technology centers, most provide CTE courses for part of a student’s school day.
• Twelve (12) centers provide comprehensive technical and academic courses.
• Most secondary students enrolled in CTE in Pennsylvania are in grades 10-12.
• The number of students enrolled in CTE programs has risen 157% from 1999 to 2004 according to an Office of Vocational and Adult Education report.
• 96.6% of high school students take at least one vocational course, reports the 2004 NAVE Final Report.

State Agencies:

CTE in Pennsylvania is managed through the Department of Education (PDE), under the direction of the Deputy Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education, and the Bureau of Career and Technical Education (BCTE). The Department of Education provides guidance and support through the state’s school districts and also works directly with community colleges receiving Perkins funding.

Why Will Parents Choose the Christian Vocational School?

• Lowered Level of Safety Concerns.
• Discipline & Lifestyle Expectations.
• Christian Culture & Peer Group.
• Dress Code.
• Individual Attention/Smaller Classes.
• Christian Events Supported and Christian Holidays Honored & Celebrated.
• More Parental Interaction Regarding the Child’s Education.

CONCLUSION FOR PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL AND PUBLIC VOCATIONAL SCHOOL STUDENTS

PATHWAYS TECH CCTE
will not only meet and compete
by establishing these same parental values, but will additionally promote moral and ethical standards
and provide specific vocational trade training. 
Parents will obtain the best
educational scenario for their children—
academically, vocationally, and spiritually.

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STUDENT DROP-OUTS
AND STUDENT DROP-INS

Stats: 

• In the past 50 years, high school completion has grown in importance as the labor market has been transformed in the knowledge economy. 
• Alarmingly, nearly one in every three students who start high school in the ninth grade fails to complete the 12^th grade within four years. 
• Literally millions of young people are out of school and grossly ill equipped to compete in the 21^st century workforce and economy.

Why Do Students Drop Out? (According to the “Issue Sheet” from ACTE)

• Students lose interest and motivation in education because the curriculum does not seem to have a real-world application.
• Academics are often presented in isolation, instead of in a way that shines a spotlight on how the subject is applicable in the context of the real world.
• In a 2006 poll by Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc. of at-risk ninth- and 10^th-graders, it was found that six in ten respondents were not motivated to succeed in school.  Of these students, more than 90 percent said they would be more engaged in their education if classes helped them acquire skills and knowledge relevant to future careers.

 
Why Will Drop-Outs Choose the Christian Vocational School?

• Freedom to Return—No State Enforced Requirements on Returning Students.
• Unthreatened by State Academic Test Requirements for Vocational Success.
• Discipline & Lifestyle Expectations—Many Seek a Better Learning Environment.
• Different Culture & Peer Group.
• Clean Slate & a New Start.
• Individual Attention--Attention on God’s Plan for Them.
• Opportunities to Serve Others and Grow in Self-Confidence.

 
CONCLUSION FOR STUDENT DROP-OUTS AND STUDENT DROP-INS

Pathways Tech CCTE
will provide an alternative choice
to students that have left
the educational system and want to return,
a non-threatening choice that will be structured
to the needs of the student.

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Helping the Unemployed: Pathways Tech will give individuals in transition a way to begin a new career with a chance to reinvent themselves. MSNBC reported in March 2009 that many people who have been laid off during the economic crisis are taking this opportunity to go back to school and get retrained for a new career.  Pathways Tech stands ready to serve and minister to this population.

Why Will These Adult Students Choose the Christian Vocational School?

• Looking for Better Answers.
• Looking for a Safe Haven--Loving Christian Atmosphere.
• Lifestyle Expectations--Looking for Guidance.
• Different Culture than a previous Unfriendly Workplace.
• Specific Attention & Support for Social Needs.
• Individual Training Attention/Smaller Classes.
• Social Support and Enrichment.
• Adults Wishing to Obtain a Diploma/G.E.D.

 
 CONCLUSION FOR ADULTS NEEDING
TRAINING OR RE-TRAINING

PATHWAYS TECH CCTE
will provide an alternative choice
to adults that are in need of
vocational training/retraining
in a Christian training atmosphere
that will minister to each individual's specific
academic, vocational, and spiritual need.

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS