The organizational structure is thus: The Decision Making Team is comprised of three college Associate Deans, three EFE Directors, a business representative, a high school counselor, teacher and administrator, and a labor representative. The Tech Prep Coordinator is not a voting member of the DMT but instead historically has provided direction through the reporting and annual planning cycles, monthly meetings, explanation of State and Federal Guidelines, and answers to the Team's directives. The high schools and teachers have traditionally had input in to the Team through the EFE Board of Controls and also through their direct contact with the EFE Directors and the TP Coordinator. The community college representatives have represented other community business interests by voicing the concerns and labor market needs of the college's business partners. The EFE Directors have also voiced the concerns and input from their regional work based learning partners.
The Tech Prep for Central Illinois Decision Making Team has the full authority for all matters related to Tech Prep under the federal grant, including setting the vision, goals, and objectives of the Consortium, as well as being charged with carrying out the requirements of the grants. Formed in 1991, the Consortium currently has 27 schools with corresponding site Teams. The grant office takes care of the grant writing, consortium wide planning, some of the instructor inservices, grant reporting, and TP marketing, as well as providing technical assistance to all sites and carrying out the directives of the DMT.
How businesses, industry, institutions of higher education and labor organizations are consulted when developing Tech Prep programs.
Business provides input in to the local site's program development through the school partnerships. The community college receives input through their partnerships as well, both with their articulated agreements with four-year institutions and through their Board and various business advisory groups for each department. In response to their needs/input, the college has developed 7 regional work based learning programs for high school students and the EFE's have developed three. Labor is represented on the TP Team and also through the Construction Trades regional WBL program operated by PERFECT. At the community college level, every program in the Industrial Technology Department has an advisory board made up of business and labor representatives. At least 6 different unions are represented.
The systems (consortium and local) that are in place to provide coordination and administration of Tech Prep activities without additional funding for staff positions:
The activities at the community college are carried out by the college's TP Team, which includes four Associate Deans, program coordinators, 10 faculty, the Tech Prep Coordinator and Secretary, a post-secondary advisor, and a representative from Admissions and Records.
At the high school level, the EFE Directors assist in coordination and administration by region and there is a TP Team at each high school with a TP Coordinator that is paid an extra stipend to complete extra TP assignments such as conducting TP Team meetings and written reporting to the Consortium Director. The EFE's do not charge for their services. All high school team members receive stipends for their TP after-school activities.
How resources (i.e. time, dollars, use of facilities etc.) are being secured from the local and private sector to sustain Tech Prep activities:
Area business partners support the regional and site WBL programs either financially or through services, sites, supervision, mentoring, and supplies. The region is very proud of its business partnerships and their support.