Education and Training Program Receives Award

Submitted by Jan Brite

The Education and Training Rigorous Program of Study at Tuba City High School was recently awarded the 2011 Pathways to Postsecondary Education Award from the Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education. The Pathways to Postsecondary Education Award’s goal is to recognize and showcase outstanding college access programs that prepare, encourage, transition or retain students into postsecondary education. (See attached award letter).

Tuba City High School is located on the Native American reservation in northeastern Arizona and serves students from the Navajo and Hopi tribes. The Education and Training Rigorous Program of Study at Tuba City High School, includes two pathways, the Early Childhood Education (birth-grade 3) and the Education Professions (K-12) pathways.

Each Program of Study pathway is based on education industry standards and includes an onsite work-based learning lab designed to provide students the opportunity to practice the concepts they are learning in the classroom through hands-on work experience. Participation in the program allows the students the opportunity to meet most of the requirements needed to qualify for the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, in the Early Childhood Education pathway and qualify to work as a para-professional in the Education Professions pathway. Students who complete the high school program, also earn up to six (6) college credits through the dual enrollment program offered by Coconino Community College. Students can then transition to the community college with the credits earned toward completion of the CDA credential and their Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education or the Associates in Elementary Education which is articulated directly to the Bachelor’s of Science in Elementary Education degree.