News
December 30, 2019New P-TECH Open Houses Scheduled to Meet Parent Demand
Responding to parent and student demand, a new open house has been scheduled for next week for the innovative Capital Region BOCES Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH).
The open houses are scheduled for Wednesday, January 22 at the Center for Advanced Technology at Mohonasen and Thursday, January 30, at Watervliet Junior-Senior High School. Both events will run from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The cutting-edge, four- to six-year P-TECH program (grades 9-12 and two years of college) prepares students for future careers in the field of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) through hands-on, project based learning. Depending on their interests, students will study at one of two Capital Region sites beginning their freshman year and remain there for the duration of the program.
It also provides students with an opportunity to earn a FREE associates degree.
Offered to students throughout the region through a consortium that includes Capital Region BOCES, the Capital Region Chamber, Hudson Valley Community College and SUNY Schenectady County Community College, P-TECH offers a distinct pathway that leads to an associate’s degree from a neighboring college in Computer Science, Computer Information Systems or Cybersecurity.
Current students and business leaders alike praise the program.
“I chose P-TECH because it is going to give me a much better opportunity than any other school. To get an associate’s degree for free is amazing. Its jut a fantastic opportunity,” said Alyssa Ingle, a freshman from Guilderland.
Sha-Quan Jenkins, a sophomore in the program at the Watervliet Campus, chose P-TECH even though he doesn’t envision himself as a computer programmer or information technology expert.
“I chose P-TECH because through it I get to have a free college education and there are a whole lot of people that can’t afford college. I also get to learn more about computer programming and how to do what I want to do for a career in the music industry,” Jenkins said.
Dan Fruscio of CAPCOM, a Capital Region BOCES business partner that has leant his expertise to the P-TECH program, said the school is extremely valuable for the future of the region.
“The nontraditional classroom setting, real-world curriculum and hands-on approach to learning is an experience the students will be able to carry with them throughout their entire lives & careers,” he said. “As a business partner within the community, we recognize that these students are our future and how important P-TECH is.”
