Governor Larry Hogan Commits to Launch P-TECH Schools in Maryland (PHOTO)

Governor Larry Hogan
PHOTO | Maryland Public Schools

Governor Larry Hogan announced today his commitment to launch up to four P-TECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School) schools in Maryland to better prepare students for college and entry into the job market. Hogan was joined by Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake; Stanley Litow, president of the IBM International Foundation; Dr. Gregory Thornton, CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools; and Johns Hopkins University President Ronald Daniels at Dunbar High School in Baltimore for the announcement.

According to a news release, the P-TECH education model, co-developed by IBM, is an innovative, nationally recognized approach that blends high school, college, and work experience in one. P-TECH schools offer students an integrated six-year education program that combines high school, college, and workplace skills. Graduates from Maryland’s P-TECH schools will earn their high school diploma and a two-year postsecondary degree in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) from an accredited community college. These students will also benefit from career experience and mentorship in the workplace and will be first in line for skilled jobs upon graduation through partnerships with private sector participants.

Governor Hogan had the following to say about P-TECH:

“Every single child in Maryland deserves a world-class education, regardless of what neighborhood they happen to grow up in. By blending high school, college, and workplace experience, P-TECH students will gain in-demand skills that employers need in the 21st century, and employers will gain a steady pipeline of skilled professionals,” he said. This is a truly innovative approach to improving education in disadvantaged areas, and it is my hope that two of the P-TECH schools will be located in Baltimore City.

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake expressed her support as well.

“In urban centers like Baltimore, we know that growing technology companies are creating jobs and opportunities, but if our youth are not prepared with the necessary skills, these jobs will pass them by and they will be left behind. The need for better training opportunities is particularly true for young people in some of our communities that are frequently not seen as a source for tech hires. The P-TECH model can help bridge that gap and open entire new pathways for long-term career success.”

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), in consultation with the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC), will issue a request for proposals (RFP) to create up to four P-TECH schools in both urban and rural areas of the State. The Maryland business community, including IBM, Johns Hopkins, and Kaiser Permanente, is interested in building partnerships with local school districts and community colleges to make P-TECH schools a reality. These first four schools could become the model that will be replicated in all areas of the State.

Governor @LarryHogan announces @MdPublicSchools‘ involvement in the P-TECH schools, w/ @IBM partnership. pic.twitter.com/XaBWhn56Yn — MdPublicSchools (@MdPublicSchools) November 23, 2015

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