Parnell's 1985 book, "The Neglected Majority," provided a conceptual framework for tech prep initiatives. By the late 1980s, 34 states had established tech prep programs patterned loosely after Parnell's 2+2 Tech Prep Associate Degree model. The federal government became a strong supporter of tech prep through the 1990 Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act. The fundamental components of tech prep are secondary-to-postsecondary articulation, integrated and authentic core curriculum, school-to-work opportunities, inclusive educational opportunities, outcomes-focused curriculum, and collaborative implementation. Among the main emerging tech prep models are the following: (1) pre-tech prep, which encompasses all 4 years of high school plus 2 years of postsecondary tech prep; (2) adult tech prep, which is designed for adults who are enrolled in two-year colleges but who lack adequate secondary preparation; (3) integrated tech prep, in which delivery of academic and vocational education is organized around broad career clusters; (4) work-based tech prep, in which the workplace rather than the classroom is used for student learning; and (5) the tech prep baccalaureate degree, which includes 4 rather than the conventional 2 years of postsecondary tech prep. (Contains 13 references.) (MN)