Ulster BOCES programs include Integrated Academics. Throughout New York State, the demands for higher learning standards are resulting in changes to school curriculum. In order to meet the real-world expectations for employment, trade schools, and colleges, the Ulster BOCES Career & Technical Center, along with the local high schools, must reinforce higher reading and math levels.

Ulster BOCES Career & Technical Center is dedicated to this commitment. All programs integrate language arts activities into the trade curriculum. Certified English, math, and science instructors work closely with career and technical instructors to create applied academic activities that increase students’ reading, writing, math, and science abilities.

There is a strong focus on academic courses. A team of academic teachers provides instruction in various school-level and Regents-level courses that assist students in meeting graduation requirements.

These courses are:

English 11.......................................................1 Credit
English 12.......................................................1 Credit
Technical Health......................................... ½ Credit
Common Core Mathematics.................. 1 Credit
Common Core Science..............................1 Credit
Government...................................................½ Credit

Work-Based Learning Opportunities are also available to all students enrolled at the Career & Technical Center. This component offers students varied experiences in jobs related to individual career goals. A continuum of employment preparation opportunities includes workplace investigation, shadowing, apprenticeships, internships, and diversified cooperative occupational and capstone placements. These options vary in expected prerequisite skills and length of duration, depending on the individual student’s levels and needs.

Students attend the Career & Technical Center for a full day, with a half-day in an academic prep or TASC (Testing Assessing Secondary Completion) class and a half-day in one of the career and technical programs. Computer instruction is integrated into the highly individualized academic/TASC program. TASC replaces the General Education Development (GED) program as the primary pathway to gaining a NYS High School Equivalency Diploma. Requirements to participate in the TASC program include having at least an eighth grade reading and math level and maintaining at least an 80% attendance level in the TAP program.

TAP (Transitional Academic Program) is designed to improve academic achievement and attendance, and secure credits, as appropriate. A reading and math level of at least sixth grade is suggested for participation. After four weeks of attendance, a determination is made of the student’s best next opportunity, such as returning to the home school, transferring to the Center for Alternative Education, remaining in the TAP program, or transferring to a TASC program.

This foundational career and technical transition program has been designed to maximize the time students spend performing actual hands-on work in jobs, trade areas, and field locations, leading to more advanced technical program participation or an effective transition from school to work.

This program serves students in Grades 9-12 who struggle with academics and motivation but who can comply with directions effectively enough to build pro-technical and employability skills in order to enhance transition to more advanced technical training or to successful entry-level employment. Skills to be developed are based on the Common Core Learning Standards for Career Development and Occupational Studies.

The Ulster County School-to-Work Partnership is designed to coordinate partnership activities and function as a liaison between and among local school districts, businesses, and the public sector. An additional primary goal is to coordinate activities of the annual Career Conference held at SUNY Ulster.