Although tech prep is becoming widely accepted by educators and the business community, the jury is still out regarding whether its anticipated student, school, and community outcomes are being realized. In theory, tech prep's focus is primarily on school-based learning, whereas school-to-work programs also include work-based learning and linkages between the two. The distinction is less clear when the core elements required for tech prep vary among tech prep consortia (as has been reported in the literature). Imprecision in defining the differences between tech prep and school-to-work has created confusion and frustration among the two initiatives' stakeholders. To date, few formal evaluations of tech prep have been conducted to document its claims. Merging tech prep and school-to-work concepts will make it more difficult to evaluate the results of the two reforms. The increased business and industry support enjoyed by tech prep has been one of its most positive outcomes. Because moving students through secondary and on to postsecondary education requires the development of academic and higher-order thinking skills required in the workplace, tech prep is especially valuable for noncollege-bound students. Thanks to its articulation components, however, tech prep is also proving valuable for college-bound students. (MN)