Frequently Asked Questions

Career and Technical Education (CTE) is a term used to describe approved courses that provide career training. These courses are taught by experts in the field, and meet the rigorous accountability standards set forth by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. In addition, these programs are guided by regional employers, trade associations, apprenticeship programs, and credentialing agencies to ensure that instruction, equipment, safety processes, and curriculum all meet industry standards. 

High schools often offer exploratory courses that are taught by industrial arts or family and consumer science teachers. These courses are valuable foundational courses that provide students with exposure into career areas.

Students who achieve academic and technical proficiency are college and career ready. Students may continue their education at a post-secondary institution, often receiving advanced standing through articulated credits. This means earning a degree for less money and in less time. Students may choose to enter directly into the workforce and earn competitive wages. Students sometimes opt to do both; using their training to obtain employment to help support themselves through their post-secondary career.

Students in grades 10,11, & 12 who reside in the Centennial, Central Bucks, Council Rock and New Hope-Solebury School Districts and attend the primary high school or an approved Private or Parochial school, may apply to attend MBIT. Because MBIT programs are three years in length, it is recommended that students begin attending MBIT in their 10th grade year.

All students who are residents of the Centennial, Central Bucks, Council Rock or New Hope-Solebury school districts have their MBIT tuition paid for by their sending district.  Students who are homeschooled or attend charter schools will need to speak with their district of residence to inquire about their enrollment policies.  In some instances, these students whose attendance is not sponsored by their resident district may apply directly to our school, but will have to pay the average cost per pupil in tuition. 

Please note: there are fees and uniform costs associated with all MBIT programs. Student fees are separate from tuition, and are the responsibility of the student's family.

Students enrolled in charter schools, including cyber charter schools, may enroll in CTE if the charter school in which the child is enrolled contracts with a CTE for the provision of services. 

Charter schools, including cyber charter schools, are not party to the negotiated agreements between school districts and CTEs. 

it is the responsibility of the charter school to decide whether to make a career and technical school curriculum available to the student and, if so, to contract with a CTE for the provisions of these services.  When a student chooses to attend a charter school, the student chooses the charter school’s educational offerings, which may or may not include a career and technical education.  A charter school may contract with a CTE to provide a career and technical education option for its students, but a charter school is not required to provide such an option unless it becomes part of a student’s individualized education program.  This information can be found on the PA Department of Education website. 

For additional information, see the applicable Basic Education Circular, Charter Schools, which can be found here. 

Homeschooled students do not have the right to participate in a career and technical education program via dual enrollment.  A school district may allow a homeschooled student to do so, however, based upon district policy.  If the district policy does allow a homeschool student to participate in a career and technical education program via dual enrollment, the school district of residence would be required to pay for the student’s participation in the career and technical education program.  This information can be found on the PA Department of Education website. 

Students will attend MBIT for one-half of their school day, every day, and will spend the other half at their sending high school completing the required academic courses. MBIT schedules will be either AM session (7:30 AM -10:15 AM) or PM session (11:30 AM-2:15 PM).

Each of the sending school districts provides transportation for students residing in their districts. Lunch is not served at MBIT. All MBIT students will eat lunch at their high school, either after returning from the AM session or before leaving to attend the PM session.

You may apply to attend MBIT in your 9th grade year, and if you are accepted, you will start as a 10th grade student. You are welcome to apply during your 10th or 11th grade years; however priority will be given to applicants who can successfully complete the full scope of a program, which is three academic years.

Once the MBIT receives the application, the sending school counselor will provide the student’s records including transcript, recent report card, attendance record, standardized test scores, discipline record(if applicable) and other relevant student information like IEP's, 504's and WIDA scores. 

Student acceptance will be determined by a review of the student’s application and records. When reviewing student records, MBIT is looking to find students who exemplify efforts to attend regularly and achieve good grades; most important, MBIT looks for students who exhibit safe behaviors while in school. 

There is no minimum GPA required for acceptance however a student failing in one or more subject may be at risk of becoming credit deficient for graduation and enrollment at MBIT may not allow the opportunity to recover credits. MBIT will consider the student's capacity to be successful in all three years of the program with a mission to accept the right student, into the right program, for the right reason!

Acceptance rates depend on the number of applications received. Due to limits on physical space in each classroom, MBIT can only accept between approximately 400-500 new students each year. MBIT has experienced an increase in the number of applications in recent years which has created greater competition for those 400-500 openings. 

If a student applies and is determined to be a qualified applicant, however they are unable to enroll in a program due to capacity, the student may be waitlisted. If a waitlisted student has a second choice program with available openings, the student may be offered their second choice program for enrollment.

Since many programs fill to capacity quickly, students should begin the application process early to ensure that a completed application package is on file at MBIT by the priority application deadline date. 

Yes, you can attend MBIT in 11th or 12th grade; however, when only attending MBIT for one or two years, a student would not able to complete the full scope of the program, which is designed to be completed over three years. 

Unfortunately, you are only able to attend one program at a time. You will spend half of every day at MBIT, in your program of study. Your program will include learning theory using textbooks and workbooks, and time in your shop areas, working on hands-on skills and applying the knowledge you have acquired.

Yes, Career and Technical Education(CTE) schools, such as MBIT, act as a bridge to college. 

In fact, students receive credit for the CTE courses and certifications they've completed, just like with AP exams. MBIT has a variety of college and university connections available to students known as articulation agreements. Those agreements may be reviewed here: https://www.mbit.org/domain/114 

Additionally, a CTE education will provide certain experiences that could help an applicant stand out in the college admissions process, like demonstrating mastery of certain skills through internships or certifications.

MBIT will take the place of electives in your high school schedule. You may not have the ability to take a foreign language classes or participate in certain activities that occur during the school day at your high school. Please check with your school counselor to confirm how impact your specific schedule.

Yes, students are able to participate in all athletics and other extracurricular activities. Transportation back to the high school for athletic games and/or practices is provided by the districts in most cases.

 In addition, MBIT offers Career and Technical Student Organizations, such as SkillsUSA, HOSA, FFA, PBA and NTHS. MBIT also has a Student Ambassador program.

The first two weeks of school will be a Drop/Add period at MBIT, during which students may express their interest in switching to another MBIT program, or return to their high school full-time. If you wish to switch programs or withdraw from MBIT entirely, please notify your MBIT teacher and school counselor, and complete the Request form (QR codes to access the form will be posted in classrooms during Drop/Add period).

If there is space available in the program you wish to join, MBIT will work with you to accommodate that switch.

If you wish to withdraw from MBIT, you will need to let your high school counselor know as soon as possible, as they only have a short window of time to create a full schedule for you at the high school. 

No, you do not have to reapply to continuing attending MBIT. In February each year, students will have one-on-one conversations with their MBIT teacher about their progress in the program, and their plans to continue in the program. A Program Recommendation form for each MBIT student is completed by the teacher and student, this form is taken home to be signed by a parent/guardian. On this form, students have the opportunity to indicate if they want to continue in their current MBIT program, switch to a different MBIT program, or not return to MBIT next school year. Once this signed Program Recommendation form is returned to MBIT, each student’s MBIT schedule is set for the following school year.

If your sending high school is closed to students for the day, however MBIT classes are in session, you are expected to attend MBIT. The high school should still be providing bus transportation. 

MBIT does not issue transcripts. Your MBIT grades and any industry certifications earned should appear on the transcript you obtain from your sending high school. We may provide a copy of your grades to a potential college or university upon request; however, we do not offer transcripts through MBIT.

You may ask your teacher for a copy of your Mastery Report that identifies what skills you have completed, and at what level of proficiency, while attending MBIT. This report is useful when applying to majors related to your MBIT program at post-secondary institutions.

The first line of communication should be the program's instructor. Whether you have a question about a student's grade or a day they were marked absent, the program instructor inputs this information and will be the best source for clarification.

For absences; you must email MBIT attendance to report absences as the high schools do not relay that information to MBIT.  Be sure to report absences right away to absent@mbit.org

For grading; we strongly encourage all parents to check PowerSchool often to keep an eye on your child’s grades, attendance, and discipline. If you notice your child’s grades slipping, reach out to the instructor promptly.

Best practice is for the student to communicate any questions or concerns directly with their instructor. We encourage students to develop this skill as a part of preparation for a career setting.

If the student feels the situation remains unresolved after contacting the instructor, the parent/guardian may also reach out to the instructor to gain clarity and address any questions or concerns they may have about the situation.

If the concerns remain after both student and parent/guardian have spoken to the teacher, please reach out to the student's MBIT counselor to facilitate a meeting with an administrator.