The legislature should respond to workforce needs by promoting Career and Technical Education as well as encouraging students to enter middle-skill career fields.
To ensure students are provided the greatest chance for success, the legislature should enable motivated students to apply their high school coursework to their future careers. Whether through college credit courses or career and technical education, all students in this state should have the opportunity to accelerate their post-secondary education.
This belief was codified under TEC §28.009, which created the College Credit Program. This program requires school districts to provide students with the opportunity to earn the equivalent of at least 12 semester college credit hours through a combination of:
(1) international baccalaureate, advanced placement, or dual credit courses; [and]
(2) articulated postsecondary courses provided for local credit or articulated postsecondary advanced technical credit courses provided for state credit.
The most traditional way for students to receive college credit is through a partnership between their public high school and an institution of higher education, known as dual credit.
Dual credit is a system in which an eligible high school student successfully completes a college course(s) that is paired to a high school course required for graduation and receives credit for the course on both the college and the high school transcripts.
These courses vary widely from English and U.S. History to Theater and Art. Some may believe the diversity of the course catalog devalues the program—considering that students may enroll in niche courses that are not applicable to their future course of study. However, in practice, this course diversity encapsulates the spirit of school choice. Through this program, families can examine the course offerings and make the best decision for their student. Some families may select non-traditional courses to match their student’s needs, but most families will select courses that meet general undergraduate requirements.
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