The Greater Southern Tier STEM Academy is Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) that will open in September 2016 and enroll a minimum of 40 students in the first year. The collaborative partnership of school districts, higher education, and business employers will prepare Students in the Greater Southern Tier for high-skills jobs of the future in advanced technical manufacturing, clean energy and health care. This 4-6 year model includes college-level, credit-bearing coursework and allows students to choose their own "pathways" to high-skill jobs.

The GST STEM Academy has redesigned secondary education to offer students opportunities to learn the skills necessary to be successful in STEM careers. The GST STEM Academy provides students with:

• Cost-free, grades 9-14 STEM education (students may complete the program in up to 6 years)
• Cost-free Associate degree or the two-year degree that is the industry-recognized standard
• Workplace learning that includes 1:1 mentoring, worksite visits, job shadowing, internships and apprenticeships
• Intensive, individualized academic support by K-12 and college faculty that enables students to progress through the program at their own pace
• Commitment from participating business partners for students to be first in line for job consideration following completion of the program

Classes will be held at Airport Corporate Park, 360 Daniel Zenker Drive, Horseheads, NY 14845. Students will spend their ninth- and 10th-grade years at the new location and their 11th- and 12th-grade years will be spent at GST BOCES and Corning Community College. Years 13-14 (if needed) take place at CCC.

Supervisor of STEM Education at GST BOCES Rob Sherburne serves as the principal.

The school employs an English Language Arts teacher, math teacher and science teacher, who work closely together to integrate the subjects in lessons. They are assisted by a part-time STEM instructional coach. The school also has a school counselor on staff.

Eighth-graders in participating districts can apply. Along with an application and a form that parents fill out, applicants must submit written recommendations from teachers and school counselors. All application materials must be submitted to the offices of the middle school counselor in the student's district of residence by April 1, 2016. Applicants also will participate in an interview session.

Students who meet the requirements but who are not selected will be placed on a waiting list for their school. Should a slot become available before the start of the school year, it will be offered to a student from the waiting list for that school. If all the available slots for a particular school are not filled, a lottery will be held among students on the waiting lists for all the component school districts.

Yes, home school districts will transport students from their home school to P-TECH in the morning, as well as from P-TECH back to their home school in the afternoon.

Yes, students are bused back to their home schools in time to participate in sports or other after-school activities.

Yes, students will be able to walk with their peers during graduation, although they won't actually receive their diploma until they complete their selected program pathway.

• Nearly 30 percent of Americans with an associate degree now earn more than those with bachelors degrees. (Georgetown University's Center on Education and Workforce)
• A two-year community college degree, at present full rates, costs about $6,262, according to the College Board. A bachelor's degree from a four-year, private residential university costs approximately $158,072.
• The Georgetown Center estimates that 29 million jobs paying middle class wages today require only an associate degree, not a bachelor's degree.
• What makes the P-TECH model so beneficial is that not only are graduates armed with skills to succeed, they pay nothing for the AS and AAS degrees.
• The AS and AAS degrees allow students to continue into a four-year bachelor's degree program if they desire.

The regional business partners are committed to serving as mentors for students throughout their program career, meeting with them in person and by virtual communication, as well as guiding internships and putting graduates in line for jobs within their companies. Participating companies are: Corning Inc., Hilliard Corp., Cameron Manufacturing and Design, Hardinge Inc., Vulcraft Group, Dresser-Rand, Southerntier Custom Fabricators, Guthrie Corning Hospital, Arnot Health, Chemung County Health Department and Hunt Engineers, Architects and Surveyors.