The Law Enforcement program at Allen High School is
currently in its fourth year. Students enter the Public Services
Endorsement Pathway generally during their freshman year. The first year
course gives a very broad overview of law enforcement, courts, corrections,
fire and private security. As students progress through the pathway the
focus begins to narrow to law enforcement. During year three
students earn their basic telecommunication certification, which is done in
compliance with the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch.
This year, for the first time, practicum was added as an
option for fourth year students. Selected seniors that will be
participating in practicum during this school year have completed the necessary steps to participate in this internship program. In order to gain admittance to practicum,
students went through an application process that included: review of
disciplinary, attendance and academic records, testing, teacher references and
a research paper over the Broken Window Theory. Each obtained their basic
telecommunication certification last school year. During practicum they will be
rotating through the public safety communications center and crime lab at the Allen Police
Department, the City of Allen Municipal Court and two of the courts at the Collin
County Courthouse in McKinney.
The program is designed to give students the opportunity to
learn beyond the classroom, and apply the knowledge they have garnered over the
previous three years. Additionally, it exposes students to many different
aspects of law, public safety and corrections, and allows them to interact with
practitioners across the criminal justice profession. The creation of the
practicum program also allows for a continued partnership between Allen ISD and
the City of Allen, which is a daily demonstration of everyone's commitment to
our community's students and our future law enforcement professionals.