TECHNICAL ACADEMY

academy_logo2Reading Area Community College, the Reading Muhlenberg Career & Technology Center, and Berks Career & Technology Center have partnered to create the Technical Academy.

The Technical Academy provides college-bound students with the opportunity to develop advanced technical skills and earn college credit toward an associate and/or bachelor’s degree while still in high school. The programs in the Academy are highly selective and have strict entrance criteria.

TECHNICAL ACADEMY CLUSTERS:

Business Management
Information Technology
Mechatronics Engineering Technology
Electronic Health Records & Healthcare Information Technology (planned for 2015/2016)

GET A JUMP ON COLLEGE!

The Technical Academy provides:

  • A pathway for developing advanced skills and college credits toward an associate and/or bachelor’s degree while still in high school at no cost!
  • Students are enrolled at the CTC (Career & Technology Center) and RACC while in high school. Depending on the program selected, students may complete up to six college courses at the CTC during the first and second yearof the program, earning up to 18 college credits. The college credits earned while at the CTC will be tuition free.
  • All credits earned will appear as completed courses on a college transcript establishing the transferability of these courses.
  • In the third year of the program, students may take an additional three courses on the RACC Campus, earning up to an additional 12 college credits while in high school (depending on the program selected).
  • Tuition for the final courses taken on the RACC Campus (while students are still in high school) may be subsidized by the CTC and is dependent on state and federal funding.
  • Students can enter the workforce at multiple points prior to earning a degree.
  • Students have the opportunity to earn recognized industry certifications and prepare for jobs that are in high demand.

RMCTC Technical Academy students visit the campus of Reading Area Community College.

STUDENT ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR TECH ACADEMY ONLY

  • Students must be in grades 10 or 11 to begin a program in the Technical Academy
  • 3.0 overall GPA (Tech Academy Only)
  • PSSA math proficiency
  • PSSA reading proficiency
  • To remain in the program, students must complete a college prep academic sequence throughout high school.
  • Students must successfully complete RACC placement testing prior to taking the final three courses on the RACC campus.

STUDENT COSTS

The courses that students complete on the CTC campus will be provided with college credit being issued by way of an articulation agreement (Tech Prep) and will be tuition free. The three courses that students complete at RACC while still enrolled in high school will be handled as “early admissions” and may be partially subsidized by the CTC when state and federal funding is available. Once students graduate from high school, the costs associated with the remaining courses will be the responsibility of the student. Students may apply for financial aid in the same fashion as any other RACC student. Students will be expected to purchase textbooks and all other course materials for all courses.

FOR MORE INFO

For additional information or to apply for a Technical Academy program, contact Student Services at 610-921-7311.

Check out these brochures for further information:

➤ Visit RACC’s Technical Academy web page.

➤ PSBA Bulletin article about the Technical Academy

PSBA article graphic