Texas CTE Overview Academic and CTE Integration Texas has implemented two sets of standards for CTE: the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Career and Technical Education and Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Career Development. These required standards integrate academics from the Texas College and Career Readiness Standards. In addition, each POS includes a rigorous 4x4 core academic foundation enhanced with relevant CTE career-related courses. A 2013 law, HB 2201, requires the State Board of Education to approve at least six new advanced CTE courses to satisfy a fourth credit in mathematics required for graduation. Texas offers professional development for CTE-academic integration. Texas also participates in Southern Regional Education Board activities, including High Schools That Work (HSTW) and Making Middle Grades Work, which focus on rigorous academics and CTE. The T-STEM Initiative includes academies, professional development centers and a network all designed to improve instruction and academic performance in science- and mathematics-related subjects at secondary schools. Many schools also participate in the Project Lead the Way STEM curriculum and its related professional development. College and career readiness: Texas has not adopted the Common Core State Standards but has its own Texas College and Career Readiness Standards. The AchieveTexas College and Career Initiative prepares students for secondary and postsecondary opportunities, career preparation and advancement, meaningful work and active citizenship, using the Career Clusters framework. In addition, Texas has regional programs throughout the state issuing the National Career Readiness Certificate, earned through performance on WorkKeys assessments. Career Clusters Texas has adopted the nationally recognized Career Clusters model, as part of the AchieveTexas initiative. AchieveTexas's main goals include vertical alignment so that Career Clusters span all grades (P-16+) and flow seamlessly from secondary to postsecondary programs. CTE Delivery System At the secondary level, CTE is delivered through comprehensive high schools; magnet schools, which offer specialized curriculum that fully integrates core academic instruction with specific career training; career academies within comprehensive high schools, which are small, personalized learning communities that contextualize academic instruction with specific career training; and stand-alone career academies, which are career academies that function independent of a comprehensive high school.
At the postsecondary level, CTE is delivered through the Texas State Technical College system (TSTC), which provides 2-year technical-vocational training programs that meet the specific job demands of the state, and community colleges. Funds are provided for CTE programs in the Windham school system, which serves the Texas correction system, and the Texas Youth Commission. According to 2011-12 data from the U.S. Department of Education (the latest numbers publicly available), the total number of CTE students in Texas was 1,336,778. This included the following: Secondary: 1,072,893 Postsecondary: 263,885 CTE Funding Federal: Texas is estimated to have received $84,168,234 from the Perkins Basic State Grant in FY 2013. Secondary programs receive 70 percent of Basic State Grant funds, and postsecondary programs receive 30 percent. The State Board of Education is responsible for administration of CTE programs in Texas. Responsibility for allocating grant funds is reserved for the Texas Education Agency Office for Grants and Federal Fiscal Compliance, according to the state plan. State: Under the Texas Education Code (TEC), 42.154, a school district is eligible to receive weighted funding for each eligible full-time equivalent (FTE) student in average daily attendance (ADA) in an approved CTE program. Texas weighs CTE students at 1.35 FTE. In addition to this weighted funding, a school district is eligible to receive $50 for each FTE student enrolled in two or more advanced CTE courses for three or more credits or an advanced CTE course as part of a Tech Prep program. Together, these funding elements make up the district's total CTE allotment. CTE Program Performance Data cimperatore 4/1/14 10:12 AM Comment [1]: This is a new section that we would particularly appreciate getting your feedback on. CTE program performance is reported by states each year to the federal government through the Consolidated Annual Report (CAR) as required by the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act. The reports below are the latest publicly available from the Department of Education. CAR Narrative (2011-12) Core Indicator Reports (2011-12) The following publications are also available:
An Evaluation of Texas CTE Programs Funded Under the Perkins Act (2007) Career and Technology Association of Texas Fact Sheet CTE State Standards Texas has implemented two sets of standards for CTE: the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Career and Technical Education and Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Career Development. These required standards integrate concepts from the academic curriculum, guide students in applying high-level academic concepts to real-world activities and provide opportunities for students to explore all aspects of an industry. The Texas Skill Standards Board is charged with the development of a statewide system of industry-defined and industry-recognized skill standards for major skilled, subbaccalaureate occupations with strong employment and earnings opportunities. At the postsecondary level, the Workforce Education Course Manual (WECM) serves as the guide for technical curriculum development. The WECM is composed of courses that include academic and technical competencies, per the 2011-12 CAR narrative. Dual Enrollment and Articulation Texas Education Code 28.009 requires that each school district implement a program under which students may earn the equivalent of at least 12 semester credit hours of college credit in high school through dual credit or such means as Advanced Placement. The Advanced Technical Credit grant program, also known as statewide articulation, is to support students interested in preparing for college and a technical career that requires postsecondary education. The program provides students with opportunities to earn college credit while in high school by taking enhanced high school CTE courses that have been aligned with postsecondary technical courses. In addition, HB 842, passed in 2013, allows schools to offer courses that provide CTE students with college credits while working towards an industryrecognized credential, certificate or associate degree. According to the Education Commission of the States, CTE dual enrollment courses in Texas must be college-level courses included in the state's Workforce Education Course Manual. Texas has a number of Early College High Schools, according to the Early College High School Initiative. Early college and other programs are established in law to provide opportunities for students to complete high school and earn an associate degree simultaneously. The TWO-STEP Projects (Technology Workforce Opportunities through Seamless Transitions and Educational Partnerships) offer seamless, no-penalty transitions for technical students from high school to community college and ultimately to the university. Texas also has a General
Education Core Curriculum designed to make transfers between and among Texas institutions of higher education as smooth and seamless as possible. Several Texas community colleges are developing a core curriculum of 36 credits toward a 60- credit associate's degree for oil and gas workers, as reported in Inside Higher Ed. Educator Development and Effectiveness Certification: The following are requirements for certification for CTE program areas: Three program areas require related work experience and completion of an educator preparation program: Trade and Industrial Education (TIE), Health Science Technology Education (HSTE) and Initial Marketing Education (MED). TIE and HSTE also require professional licensure or certification within the field to be taught. All certifications, except TIE, require at least a bachelor's degree. Marketing Education 8-12 may be added through certification by examination for Texas educators who have a valid classroom teaching certificate and verified work experience. Alternative certification programs (ACPs) offer a nontraditional route to certification that may allow you to teach while completing the requirements. You must have a bachelor's degree. Further information on certificate types and certification and renewal procedures is available at www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=5830&menu_id2=794. Professional development: Professional development includes online modules for CTE teachers serving special populations and professional development for CTE courses for mathematics or science credit, among many other topics. In addition, Education Service Center CTE specialists provide direct technical assistance and professional development to school district personnel in their regions. The Career and Technology Association of Texas hosts two professional development conferences annually. In addition, the CTE Training Institute and CTE Program Management Training facilitate CTE leadership. The Texas Network for Teaching Excellence in Career and Technical Education, a postsecondary leadership project, coordinates and implements a statewide CTE professional development system. Each postsecondary institution utilizes a portion of its allocation to support the professional development of faculty, counselors and administrators related to rigorous academics and CTE standards, industry standards, applied learning strategies and improvement of access and success for special populations.
High School Graduation Requirements Beginning in school year 2012-2013, in order to graduate with a high school diploma under the Minimum High School Program, students must complete a minimum of 22 credits. These requirements are comprised of the following: 4 credits in English language; 3 credits in mathematic); 2 credits in science; 3 credits in social studies; 1 academic elective; 1 credit in physical education (which may be waived through participation in a variety of other activities); 0.5 credit in speech (chosen from either communication applications or professional communications); 1 credit in fine arts; and 6.5 credits in electives. Students graduating under the Recommended High School Program must complete a minimum of 26 credits, which includes 1 more credit of mathematics, 2 more credits of science and 1 more credit in social studies, 2 credits in languages other than English and 5.5 credits in electives. Students graduating under the Distinguished Achievement High School Program/Advanced High School Program must complete a minimum of 26 credits, but with an additional credit of language and 4.5 elective credits, plus advanced measures such as dual enrollment. End-of-course assessments became part of the graduation requirements beginning with the freshman class of 2011-2012. In summer 2013, Texas voted to reduce the number of end-ofcourse exams and create more pathways to a diploma. Key State CTE Contacts State Director: Vangie Stice-Israel Texas Education Agency 1701 N. Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701 Phone: 512-936-4171 Fax: 512-463-8057 Other Contacts: Garry Tomerlin, EdD Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Community and Technical Colleges Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board 1200 E. Anderson Lane Austin, TX 78752 P.O. Box 12788 Austin, TX 78711 Phone: 512-427-6226
Local Program Examples Profiles of exemplary programs can be found on the Texas Fact Sheet. Programs of Study Programs of Study (POS) have been created for each of the Career Clusters. POS are based upon the Recommended High School Graduation Plan and can easily be adapted for the Distinguished Achievement High School Graduation Plan. Each POS includes a rigorous 4x4 core academic foundation (4 English Language Arts, 4 Mathematics, 4 Science and 4 Social Studies credits) that is enhanced with relevant CTE career-related courses. According to the state CTE plan, secondary schools are required to offer a minimum of three CTE Programs of Study from three different Clusters. Every student prepares a personalized graduation plan in middle school to plan for grades 9-16 and beyond. The student chooses a Career Cluster and POS to guide his or her learning in the context of personal career interests. The state education agency is responsible for approving secondary CTE programs, while the Higher Education Coordinating Board is responsible for approving postsecondary CTE programs. State Education and Workforce Agenda The 2014-2015 state budget included $10 million from the General Revenue Fund to be transferred to the General Revenue-Dedicated Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) Fund. The funds are to be used to provide grants to public junior colleges and public technical institutes for CTE courses or programs. In summer 2013, Governor Rick Perry signed several bills related to CTE: SB 441 created the Texas Fast Start Program, a workforce readiness initiative aimed to prepare more high school students to quickly enter the workforce through CTE. HB 2201 required the State Board of Education to approve at least six new advanced CTE courses to satisfy a fourth credit in mathematics required for graduation. HB 809 required the state's workforce arm to provide the TEA with "information at least each quarter regarding current and projected employment opportunities in this state." HB 3662 created the Texas Workforce Innovation Needs Program, designed to encourage selected school districts and colleges to work together to design programs aimed to "prepare students for careers for which there is demand in this state." HB 842 allowed schools to offer courses which provide CTE students with college credits while working towards an industry-recognized credential, certificate or associate degree.
HB 5 reduced the required number of end-of-course exams from 15 to five and allows incoming high school freshmen to select one of four "endorsement" tracks on which to focus their studies. In 2012, the governor unveiled the Skilled Workforce Initiative, which allows college students to achieve technical certifications for jobs in high-demand fields without taking coursework in skills they already know. Educate Texas, originally known as the Texas High School Project (THSP), focuses on collegeready standards and practices, postsecondary access and success, human capital strategies, and collective impact. It has used several models of redesign, including early college high schools, career academies and STEM academies. Career academies have been particularly embraced in Dallas. Texas also participates in several Southern Regional Education Board activities, including the High Schools That Work (HSTW) and Making Middle Grades Work reform initiatives. The T-STEM Initiative includes academies, professional development centers and a network all designed to improve instruction and academic performance in science- and mathematics-related subjects at secondary schools. Other CTE-related initiatives include the AchieveTexas College and Career Initiative, which prepares students for secondary and postsecondary opportunities, career preparation and advancement, meaningful work and active citizenship, using the Career Clusters framework. AchieveTexas includes seamless transitions, business-education partnerships and career guidance. In addition, the Governor has initiated Closing the Gaps by 2015, which has a goal to increase by 50 percent the number of degrees, certificates and other identifiable student successes from highquality programs by 2015. Grad TX helps adult learners finish a bachelor degree. State labor market: Key industries in Texas are advanced technology and manufacturing; biotechnology and life science; petroleum refining and chemical products; aerospace, aviation and defense; information and computer technology; and energy. Find more statistics on the state labor market at www.tracer2.com. Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training grants have been awarded to ACT-On Retail Management Careers, a consortia with California, Oregon and Alaska, and to the National Information, Security and Geospatial Technology Consortium (NISGTC). Technical Skills Assessments According to the 2011-12 CAR narrative, TEA requires secondary school districts and charter schools to report end-of-program industry-recognized licensures and certifications to verify program technical skill attainment data.
On the postsecondary level, the Higher Education Coordinating Board requires all public community, state and technical colleges offering CTE programs to verify workforce competencies through capstone courses, an external learning experience or a credentialing exam. New CTE program applications are required to include verification that the new programs meet the criteria outlined in the Guidelines for Instructional Programs in Workforce Education. The Texas Skill Standards Board (TSSB) is charged with the development of a statewide system of industry-defined and industry-recognized skill standards for major skilled, subbaccalaureate occupations with strong employment and earnings opportunities. As part of TSSB Program Recognition, colleges must develop assessments that measure students' attainment of the skill standards content. Such assessments, aligned with industry-recognized standards, must directly address the technical skill attainment performance indicator. For areas in which there are no TSSB-recognized skill standards, the TSSB maintains a list of industry certifications.