This week the Governor signed a bill into law that creates a new program to connect high school students with employers in the technology industry.

Pathways in Technology Early College High (P-TECH) Schools, provides a course of study leading to a high school degree and an associate’s degree and workplace skills that are aligned with industry needs and expectations in six years.

The program will begin in Baltimore City, with plans for expansion into other counties in the State. As described in the Baltimore Sun,

The $10 million, five-year P-Tech program will start this fall at two schools in Baltimore. In 2017, the program is expected to expand to schools on the Eastern Shore, in Western Maryland and in Prince George’s County.

The program integrates private industry employers, as reported in the Baltimore Sun,

Under the program, a high-tech employer agrees to offer jobs to young people who complete the tuition-free program spanning four years of high school years and two of community college.

According to the Department of Legislative Services, P-TECH programs started in Brooklyn, New York, as a collaboration between the New York City Department of Education, the City University of New York, New York City College of Technology (“City Tech”), and IBM.

Since the P-TECH Brooklyn opened in 2011, the P-TECH model has spread rapidly throughout the country and to Australia. According to the Washington Post, as of fall 2015, there were 40 P-TECH schools operating in three states – Connecticut, Illinois, and New York. Colorado and Rhode Island have both recently passed legislation to develop P-TECH schools, and it is anticipated that there will be at least 60 P-TECH programs in operation by fall 2016.

For more information, see the Pathways in Technology Early College High (P-TECH) Schools Act of 2016, and coverage from the Baltimore Sun, Hogan plans to sign bills on technology education, voting.