Environmental Solutions is an umbrella term that encapsulates professions addressing critical environmental and sustainability issues. These issues include climate change, rampant wildfires, renewable energies, and increasing demands on our water supply. These high-growth careers -- positions such as Environmental Scientists and Sustainability Specialists -- will serve important roles in local and global communities and economies in the search for and practice of environmental solutions to critical contemporary challenges.

We understand that student interests may change with the years. One of the benefits of P-TECH is giving students access to experiential learning in a workplace setting and skilled professionals to help students assess their interests and fit in different workplaces. We do not think it is constructive to pigeonhole a student into a specific occupation (many of the occupations may need to adapt to different technological innovations and external developments in the coming years). Students may choose to apply an Associate of Science degree to a variety of different occupations.

When students apply and decide to enter the pathway, we require that they stay at least one year in the pathway. We'll revisit their interest and experience in a conversation at the end of their 9th and 10th grade years to monitor their interest in continuing. Students who decide not to continue can choose to exit the 'off-ramp' of the program at the end of 9th or 10th grade.

When students apply, ideally, we are looking for students who have discovered an interest or natural inclination for STEM, sustainability, renewable energies, or the green economy in one way or another. On a scale of 1 (very low) to 10 (very high level of interest), we like to see 7s and above as a general indicator of interest in the general subject matter of the pathway.

P-TECH students can choose between an Associate of Science degree or Associate of Arts - Environmental Studies degree at Colorado Mountain College.

Most incoming P-TECH students will likely be 9th graders and will not have a regular internship or related employment during 9th grade.

We will work with older P-TECH students to place them in work-based learning opportunities with one of our participating partners. Many students may elect to be placed in their internship during the summer after their 10th or 11th grade years when they have more free time in their schedules.

Active Energies Solar, Inc., Encore Electric, Vail Honeywagon, and Walking Mountains Science Center are the our initial P-TECH partners for the Environmental Solutions pathway. We added Betty Ford Alpine Garden, Eagle River Watershed Council, Eagle Valley Land Trust, Mountain Recreation, and Sylvan Lake State Park (via Colorado Parks & Wildlife) in 2022.

Yes, the cohort will meet for approximately an hour on Wednesday mornings (assuming a continuing late-start schedule). Students will learn from content relevant to the pathway as well as academic readiness and workforce development curriculums in preparation for college-level courses and on-the-job internships. Students will receive 0.25 hours of unweighted elective credit per semester for the class. The classes will be held at both Battle Mountain High School and Eagle Valley High School.

No, Colorado Mountain College is the only college partner for P-TECH.

Payment is not guaranteed for students in a P-TECH internship, but our intention is to arrange for student compensation in return for students meeting agreed-upon expectations in the internship.

Potentially, but only under favorable circumstances. The high school course schedules will be used as the primary options. One challenge of the CMC summer courses schedule is that it overlaps with the ECSD spring semester, often creating scheduling complications for students between the two schools.

Eagle County School District schedules will be prioritized, but there may occasional opportunities that are accepted in certain situations. Each opportunity must be reviewed with an ECSD school counselor before enrolling in CMC summer school. Online choices will be reviewed as well.

During the school year, P-TECH students may want to take CMC courses online or at the CMC-Edwards campus if the course of interest is not offered or not available at the high school campus and does not interfere with the normal school schedule. P-TECH students will not be permitted to take courses at CMC or online through CMC if the same course is offered and available on the high school campus.

For 2022-2023, there are two designated P-TECH schools: Battle Mountain and Eagle Valley. Any interested current Red Canyon High School (RCHS) or Vail Ski & Snowboard Academy (VSSA) student would need to transfer to one of those two schools in order to participate in P-TECH.

Review the CMC concurrent enrollment eligibility requirements.

The Accuplacer is a test used to measure a student's academic levels before the student can enroll in a college-level class. Colorado Mountain College's placement testing coordinator, Mrs. Carol Carlson, conducts information sessions at the high schools, and ECSD school counselors will also address this issue with students. Learn more about placement testing.

Once a P-TECH student places at college level through the Accuplacer assessments, the student makes an appointment with a CMC counselor to chart the CMC academic pathway for the associate's degree.

Yes, each student will be evaluated for fit according to the guidelines. Non-discrimination policies apply to P-TECH just as they do in any other public school in the state. In fact, we are encouraging the inclusion of a representative proportion of students with disabilities in our cohorts.

A lot! Consider the tuition and room & board expenses at popular in-state and out of state options that are listed on the schools' websites. While most four-year college students typically pay less than the "sticker price" of college (given different forms of financial aid), the cost savings of the P-TECH option can still be substantial for a student weighing his or her options. Subtracting two years of costs (assuming the transfer of credits from an associate's degree) at a four-year school can save a student and family a lot of money. Also, if the student completes a bachelor degree faster than s/he would without the credits from the P-TECH pathway, then s/he could likely enter the workforce sooner than s/he would otherwise and thus start earning money sooner as well. 

Students have the option of completing their associate degree in four, five, or six years.

If a student opts for a 5th and 6th year of high school, they would attend all classes through Colorado Mountain College, on the CMC campus with some potential online offerings available to them as well.

As stated by the Colorado Department of Education, “a P-TECH student’s high school diploma cannot be dated and conferred to the student until he/she has completed the P-TECH program."

It is understandable that having a later date on a student's diploma may be upsetting to the student (for students who choose the 5th or 6th year option), but it is a necessary trade-off by state regulations. In order to help finance one's continuing education using state funds, the student must continue to be classified as a high school student in P-TECH.

Yes, but you will not receive a diploma during the graduation ceremony. However, if your school issues diplomas during the ceremony, no one at the ceremony will be able to tell that you did not receive a diploma as you should receive the same cover or protector as other students. Students are advised to confirm the order and receipt of a cover with their high school counselor and registrar well before the ceremony.

Most college-level courses are transferable to public Colorado universities as well as many out-of-state schools, but students should not automatically assume that to be the case, especially for out-of-state options. Read about Colorado Mountain College's transfer policies. 

Students who are interested in attending a four-year college or university are encouraged to confirm college course selections with their universities of choice to ensure that the courses will transfer prior to registration.

The student must have a final grade of C- (70) or above to have the cost of the tuition covered. Otherwise, the student / family must reimburse the school district for the cost of the tuition. Other stipulations will be covered in the P-TECH agreement, but this is one of the main points.

We will look to include as many students as possible provided they are good fits. The recommendation of teachers will be carefully considered. Student and parents/guardians are asked to assess the benefits and costs of making this choice before submitting the application.

Yes, if for whatever reason you are not able to complete the P-TECH requirements, you will still receive a high school diploma assuming you completed your high school graduation requirements. In this case, your diploma will reflect the year in which the graduation requirements were fulfilled.

Yes, they will be eligible to participate in all sports, clubs, and activities through their fourth year of high school assuming they meet all of the extracurricular requirements of the high school (e.g. maintaining the required grade point average).

No, 5th or 6th year P-TECH students are not eligible to compete in college athletics (e.g. the cross country team at CMC) as they are still technically considered high school students.