The Articulation Process

Tech Prep articulations are commitments made between high school and college programs.  They assure students and their families that diligence and achievement will be rewarded with high school and college – dual – credit. 

Dual credit reduces duplicative coursework in post-secondary settings, which in turn reduces system bottlenecks and remediation.  For the student, dual credit increases their self-confidence and motivation, which in turn increases the likelihood that he or she will continue in a post-secondary program upon graduating from high school.

Articulation agreement language is now included in the Perkins basic grant as well as Tech Prep.  Articulations must be formalized with lead secondary and post-secondary administrators and reviewed annually (see Common Areas of Practice). The Washington State Legislature set forth a statewide process for initiating, developing and formalizing articulations that is described in Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 28B.50.530.  This process includes guidelines outlining:

  • the local level authority to establish articulations;
  • the standards and curricular framework that should be met;
  • the certification expected of instructors teaching articulated courses; and

In summary, key guidelines for Washington’s articulation process are as follows:

  1. Community and technical colleges may establish articulations with local school district boards. These agreements usually outline use of services and facilities between district boards of trustees and school boards.
  2. Colleges must adhere to the Northwest Commission of Schools and Colleges’ Accreditation Handbook, and so articulations developed should meet the association’s standards for off-campus or special status programs receiving college credit.
  3. Articulated courses must be taught by vocationally certified and endorsed instructors, per Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 131.95.095, part 2
  4. The State Board for Community and Technical College’s common template for articulation processes should be used, as described fully in the SBCTC Policy Handbook  (chapter 4).
  5. Articulations should satisfy all the definitions of the Perkins Act of 2006 (SEC.3. Definitions)

For a full explanation of this process, please refer to the Statewide Articulation Guidelines Handbook.

Please note: Articulations should adhere to the college readiness standards for math, science and English. To learn more, please see our Academic Rigor page.

2006 Perkins definitions, performance indicators, and tech prep consortia review schedules are explained under the 2006 Perkins page.

Check out our Frequently Asked Questions page for detailed explanations about articulations and other topics important to Tech Prep consortia success.