What is
SOAR?
SOAR (Students Occupationally and Academically Ready) is
a set of articulation agreements that seamlessly links high school and college Career
and Technical Education (CTE)
together. SOAR, allows high school graduates to earn college credit for
successfully completing certain CTE programs at a technical high school. With SOAR credits, a student can graduate with
an associate's degree sooner, and with the technical skills necessary to join
the workforce in a High Priority Occupation.
SOAR is part of the Perkins Career & Technical Education
Grant, and is sometimes referred to by its previous name, Programs of
Study.
What CCAC programs are
included in SOAR?
Pennsylvania's Bureau of Career and Technical Education (BCTE) has compiled a list of programs that are
offered at many of the technical high schools across the state for inclusion in
SOAR. For each, the Bureau has compiled a task list of skill competencies that
a high school student will master upon successful completion of the curriculum.
Successful completion at the high school level can then translate into college
credits at any of the state's 14 community colleges and many other
postsecondary technical schools. CCAC has signed onto 58 SOAR
articulation agreements in the following areas:
| CIP |
CCAC Program |
| 11.0801 |
104 Multimedia Web Design |
| 11.0901 |
242 Information Technology Support, Certificate |
| 11.0901 |
783 Information Technology Support |
| 12.0508 |
670 Culinary Arts |
| 15.0303 |
299 Basic Electronics, Certificate |
| 15.0303 |
300 Electronic Engineering Technology |
| 15.1202 |
783 Information Technology Support |
| 15.1301 |
270 Architectural Drafting & Design |
| 15.1301 |
276 Mechanical Drafting and Design Technology, AS |
| 15.1301 |
277 Civil Engineering Technology, Certificate |
| 15.1301 |
422 Computer Aided Drafting and Design, AS |
| 15.1301 |
717 Basic Computer Aided Drafting, Certificate |
| 19.0708 |
621 Early Education and Child Development |
| 19.0708 |
622 Early Education and Child Development, Certificate |
| 19.0708 |
623 Child Development, Diploma |
| 26.1201 |
416 Biotechnology |
| 46.0401 |
383 Building Maintenance Technology, Certificate |
| 46.0401 |
384 Building Maintenance Technology |
| 46.0503 |
365 Plumbing |
| 47.0201 |
312 Heating and Air Conditioning, Certificate |
| 47.0201 |
313 Heating and Air Conditioning |
|
47.0604 |
349 Automotive Technology |
| 47.0604 |
350 Automotive Technology Program, Certificate |
| 48.0508 |
316 Welding Technology |
| 48.0508 |
317 Welding Technology, Certificate |
| 48.0508 |
319 Welding, Gas & Oil Certificate, Certificate |
| 50.0402 |
374 Graphic Communication |
| 50.0402 |
376 Digital Graphic Design, Certificate |
| 51.0801. |
419 Medical Assistant, Diploma |
| 51.0801 |
535 Medical Assistant |
| 52.0302 |
217 Accounting, Certificate |
| 52.0302 |
340 Accounting Specialist |
| 52.0401 |
234 Administrative Computer Specialist, Certificate |
| 52.0401 |
785 Administrative Assistant |
To see which CCAC courses have been articulated for
specific SOAR programs, use CollegeTransfer.net or view the pdf file Articulated CCAC Courses by CIP.
What are the
advantages of SOAR for students?
- Saving money on college tuition
- Saving time by shortening college attendance
- Getting on the right career pathway
- Entering the job market with marketable skills
- Getting a consistent education from secondary through
postsecondary
What does a high school
student need to do to earn the articulated SOAR credits at
CCAC?
- Earn a high school diploma with a minimum 2.50 cumulative grade
point average on a 4.0 scale in the technical courses
- Complete the secondary component of SOAR (all required high
school technical courses).
- Achieve a competent or advanced level on the secondary school
end-of program assessment, the National Occupational Competency
Testing Institute (NOCTI) test.
- Achieve proficiency on all items on the approved PDE SOAR
Secondary Competency Task List
- Submit documentation to verify qualification to the CCAC
admissions office.
What documents
must students submit to CCAC for SOAR
credit?
- Completed Secondary Competency Task List (sample) with a Secondary Competency Task
- Secondary Competency Task List Coversheet (sample); which lists:
- Student's Name
- Program of Study Name
- Program of Study CIP number
- Instructor's Signature
- Instructor's Name
- School Name
- School Mailing Address
- School Telephone Number
- Perkins Statewide Articulation Agreement Documentation
Coversheet (sample)
- Official High School Transcript
- Diploma
- Any Earned Industry Certification
To get a printable set of SOAR documents (Task List Coversheet,
Secondary Competency Task List Coversheet and a program Task Grid)
go to gettingthemthere.com.
When does a CCAC student get the articulated
credits?
Unless stated otherwise in the agreement, students will be awarded the
articulated credits upon the successful completion of their first CCAC course.
Where will CCAC's SOAR
students come from?
Any high school Career and Technical Education student,
who successfully fulfills the requirements of a secondary SOAR
program, can earn articulated credits at any community college or
postsecondary institution within Pennsylvania that has signed onto
that particular SOAR agreement. For CCAC, we anticipate that most
of our SOAR students will come from the Pittsburgh Public Schools
or one of Allegheny County's five Career and Technical Education
Centers: