Section 204(c) of Perkins III states that a tech-prep program shall:

1. be carried out under an articulation agreement between the participants in the consortium;

2. consist of at least 2 years of secondary school preceding graduation and 2 years or more of higher education, or an apprenticeship program of at least 2 years following secondary instruction, with a common core of required proficiency in mathematics, science, reading, writing, communications, and technologies designed to lead to an associate's degree or a postsecondary certificate in a specific career field;

3. include the development of tech-prep programs for both secondary and postsecondary, including consortium, participants in the consortium that--

(A) meets academic standards developed by the State;

(B) links secondary schools and 2-year postsecondary institutions, and if possible and practicable, 4-year institutions of higher education through nonduplicative sequences of courses in career fields, including the investigation of opportunities for tech-prep secondary students to enroll concurrently in secondary and postsecondary coursework;

(C) uses, if appropriate and available, work-based or worksite learning in conjunction with business and all aspects of an industry; and

(D) uses educational technology and distance learning, as appropriate, to involve all the consortium partners more fully in the development and operation of programs;

4. include in-service training for teachers that--

(A) is designed to train vocational and technical teachers to effectively implement tech-prep programs;

(B) provides for joint training for teachers in the tech-prep consortium;

(C) is designed to ensure that teachers and administrators stay current with the needs, expectations, and methods of business and all aspects of an industry;

(D) focuses on training postsecondary education faculty in the use of contextual and applied curricula and instruction; and

(E) provides training in the use and application of technology;

5. include training programs for counselors designed to enable counselors to more effectively--

(A) provide information to students regarding tech-prep education programs;

(B) support student progress in completing tech-prep programs;

(C) provide information on related employment opportunities;

(D) ensure that such students are placed in appropriate employment; and

(E) stay current with the needs, expectations, and methods of business and all aspects of an industry;

6. provide equal access, to the full range of technical preparation programs, to individuals who are members of special populations, including the development of tech-prep program services appropriate to the needs of special populations; and

7. provide for preparatory services that assist participants in tech-prep programs.