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Technology Center of DuPage (TCD) offers DuPage County area high school juniors and seniors 20 career and technical education programs (CTE) as part of their high school curriculum. Its mission is to provide an education environment that supports and encourages individual learning styles, develops occupational skills and professionalism, promotes academic growth, and assists students in discovering their potential. In addition to high school credit, TCD students may concurrently earn dual credit (college credit earned while in high school), by enrolling at no cost with the college during the designated timeframe. A reading or math placement test may be required prior to enrolling. Colleges offering dual credit include College of DuPage, Kishwaukee Community College, and Joliet Junior College (depending on the TCD program).

Technology Center of DuPage features a quarter million square foot campus, state-of-the-art technology, and up-to-date skills instruction used in today’s high-demand careers. Tuition and bus transportation are covered by the participating partner high school districts through a combination of local, state, and federal funding (Perkins Act). Some districts charge students a fee to enroll, otherwise, the only cost to the student is a modest class fee for books and necessary supplies.

Offered in morning and afternoon sessions five days a week, each Technology Center program allows students to learn at their own pace through a hands-on, individualized learning plan based on goal achievement. Through their respective programs, students use field-specific mathematics, science reasoning, language arts, and technology in real world applications. TCD programs include training in the career pathway clusters listed below:

Architecture & Construction
Arts, A-V Technology & Communications
Education & Training
Health Science
Hospitality & Tourism
Human Services
Information Technology
Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security
Manufacturing
Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM)
Transportation & Logistics

TCD academic curricula are aligned with Illinois Learning Standards. Employability skills (attendance, cooperation, initiative, dependability, teamwork, and safety/sanitation/accuracy) are as important as occupational and academic skills at TCD. Workplace skills such as résumé writing, interviewing, business correspondence, and portfolio development are also an important part of each program’s curriculum.

In addition to skills learned in the program, career exploration and networking are available through TCD’s work-based learning opportunities. On campus, students operate their own businesses, including a restaurant, bistro, and deli; automotive repair shop; full-service salon; and preschool. Off-campus opportunities include job shadowing and paid internships with TCD’s area business partners.

Through Technology Center programs, students have the opportunity to earn transferable college credit; prepare for industry, state, or national licensing and certification exams; qualify for apprenticeships; or earn scholarships and grants toward college. Over the past four years, TCD seniors were awarded over $1.5 million in scholarships.