Issued jointly by Oregon's Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Commissioner of Community Colleges, this policy statement is aimed at implementing the Oregon Tech Prep/Associate Degree Program (TPAD), a new applied academics curricular structure. The paper begins with a summary of Oregon's school reform effort, an open letter to the leaders of Oregon high schools and community colleges, a statement of the problem of addressing the educational and curricular needs of those students who are unlikely to complete a baccalaureate, and four benchmarks concerning the education and job training of high school students into the year 2010. Next, an introduction describes the need for a TPAD, emphasizing the ways in which such a program removes barriers to educational excellence. After providing a definition of a TPAD, the paper proposes that the following steps be taken to initiate Oregon's program: (1) develop a structured and substance-rich applied academics curriculum; (2) develop and implement high standards, achievement expectations, and assessment policies; (3) develop learning and guidance strategies; (4) provide teacher/counselor preservice and inservice programs; (5) develop the curriculum through collaboration among high school and college faculty, regional professional technical education coordinators, education service districts, and employer representatives; (6) develop strategies aimed at changing student, as well as public attitudes, about professional technical training; and (7) develop community college "bridge" programs to prepare adult students to move into TPAD programs. For each of the seven proposed steps, a number of more specific activities are explored. Notes and references are also included. (JSP)