(1)    In cooperation with a technical college district board, each school board shall establish a technical preparation program in each public high school located in the school district. The program shall consist of a sequence of courses, approved by the technical college system board under s. 38.04 (26), designed to allow high school pupils to gain advanced standing in the technical college district’s associate degree program upon graduation from high school.

   (2)   

      (a)    The technical college district director shall appoint a technical preparation council to coordinate the establishment of the technical preparation programs. The council shall consist of 12 members.

      (b)    The technical college district board and the school boards of school districts that operate high schools located in the technical college district shall establish a consortium to implement the technical preparation programs.

   (3)   The department and the technical college system board shall provide technical assistance to school boards to develop technical preparation programs in each high school. Annually, the school board shall evaluate its program and report the results to the state superintendent and the technical college system board.