Programs of Study and SOAR

1. What is meant by SOAR?
SOAR stands for Students Occupationally and Academically Ready. The mission of SOAR is to prepare students for college and careers in a diverse, high-performing workforce.

2. What is a SOAR Program?
A SOAR Program is a PDE approved, Career & Technical Education Program that credits skills and tasks learned at the secondary school (high school) level to a postsecondary ( college) degree, diploma or
certificate program. SOAR programs prepare today’s student for High Priority Occupations which are tomorrow’s high demand and high wage careers.

More information about specific SOAR Programs

3. What is a CTE articulation agreement?
A Career and Technical Education (CTE) Articulation Agreement is a an agreement written between two institutions which permits skills and tasks learned at one institution (in this case, the secondary school
offering the PDE Approved SOAR Program) to be accepted and applied toward a degree or certificate at a postsecondary institution. In SOAR Programs, the agreement is made between PDE representing the Secondary School Partners and Perkins-Allocated Postsecondary Institution Partners.

4. What is meant by Statewide Articulation?
Statewide articulation occurs when a specific Perkins Allocated Postsecondary Institution agrees to award college credit opportunities to any qualifying graduate of a PDE approved secondary school offering the SOAR Programs of Study across the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, hence a statewide articulation.

5. Where can I read about the SOAR Programs Statewide Articulation Agreement?
Articulation for advanced credit transfer is made possible when Perkins Allocated Postsecondary Institutions and Pennsylvania secondary schools offering SOAR programs agree to the terms and conditions stated in the Perkins Statewide Articulation Agreement. This agreement outlines the general agreement conditions between secondary and postsecondary institutions and student qualification measures allowing for the student to acquire postsecondary education credits leading to an industry-recognized credential or certificate at the postsecondary level or an associate or baccalaureate degree.
To view the agreement, go to Perkins Statewide Articulation Agreement (PDF)  located on the BCTE programs of Study Articulation

6.  Which institutions accept SOAR?
A list of institutions that accept score can viewed here Institutions Accepting SOAR Credits (PDF - 272KB)