The Center for Polytechnical Education (CPE)

The Center for Polytechnical Education (CPE) is a not-for-profit organization working to educate the next generation of leaders in the 21st century innovation economy. CPE is part of a strategy to reform education and make the American economy more competitive, lift our residents out of poverty, and develop socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable communities.

CPE’s approach to education reform is systemic, innovative, and research-driven. We believe that effective school system redesigns should involve all stakeholders, including students, parents, community, educators, government, industry, and labor. CPE seeks to transform the educational system by developing a replicable model.

CPE currently has two projects underway: CAAT and Austin Polytechnical Academy (APA), a manufacturing-focused high school in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. CAAT also has developed strong relationships with nearly a dozen middle schools throughout Chicago, extending the school’s impact far beyond its own graduates.

The polytechnical model is a win-win for employers, residents, and communities. We are in the midst of a national skills shortage crisis. American companies are losing their competitive advantage in the global economy because they struggle to fill high-wage, high-skill positions. Maintaining and expanding our skilled workforce is critical to our country’s ability to survive and grow in the innovation economy.

CPE also links underserved students with career pathways out of poverty by providing them with a rigorous, college- and career-prep education based on industry-recognized credentials and meaningful work experience. Our students enter into careers with family-sustaining wages, generous benefits, job security, and opportunities to advance into management and ownership. Offering services to the poor is not enough. The polytechnical model is part of a development strategy that can actually end poverty.

CPE develops educational programs to prepare students for leadership in the 21st century knowledge economy. CPE's board and education team include nationally-recognized educators and researchers. Our model uses scientifically-based, field-tested curricula and instructional strategies that accelerate learning and develop students' expert thinking and reasoning skills.

History

In 2007, CPE started Austin Polytechnical Academy (APA), a small public high school designed to train students for careers in high-tech manufacturing. Austin Polytech's message: by providing students with a rigorous college-prep education, industry-recognized credentials, and meaningful work experience in a key sector of the economy, a school can help its students out of poverty and transform their community. APA has been recognized by President-elect Barack Obama as an innovative educational model that should be replicated nationally. This replication begins with CAAT

In 2008, leaders of Mayor Richard M. Daley's new Chicago LEADS initiative approached CPE about replicating the Austin Polytech model. CPE assembled a school design team that included business leaders, nationally recognized educators, government officials, technology experts, and others, and submitted a proposal for a new information technology-focused career- and college-prep high school. Six months later, Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan officially announced his recommendation that the CPS Board of Education approve the Career Academy for Advanced Technology (CAAT) to open in September 2009.

CPE is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.