A Non-Profit, Corporation, DBA, LGC, etc. It doesn't matter. Taking advantage of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) Career & Technology Education (CTE) Career Clusters is a huge benefit for any organization in Texas.
In 1999 the state of Texas TEA adopted a statewide revision to the old K12 Vocational system. It was temporarily coined Achieve-Texas, a bold and new look at vocational offerings in Texas schools, such as Auto Mechanics, Dry Cleaning, Agriculture, etc. Today, vocational programs are referred to as Career & Technology Education, or Career Readiness.
Just what is Career Readiness in Texas? It is a system composed of 16 Career Clusters, known also as Pathways, that high schools can choose from to offer their students. Schools can have one program, or several. Career Readiness programs receive funding from the Federal Perkins Act, of which President Trump extended in 2018. Career Readiness Pathways are designed to function similar to college. In 8th grade students choose their high school pathway major. Once they arrive as freshmen they begin taking one, to two, of their pathway courses.
Example, a freshman has chosen Broadcast Journalism, which is under the Arts AV Career Cluster. They will have the first year to decide if they like it or not. By May of their 9th grade year they must choose the career pathway they will take from 10th until graduation. The design is for students to gain industry certifications, an internship, or take an independent study, all prior to graduation. In theory this will make the student more competitive in college, or the workforce. Since the passing of the 2015-House Bill 5, it is mandatory that students choose a 3 year pathway in high school beginning their freshman year. This state mandate includes graduation plans, called endorsements, that place a much higher value on CTE pathway selection.
Today, many high schools offer a plethora of Career Readiness Pathways, such as Maritime Logistics, Culinary, Broadcast Journalism, Fashion, Auto Mechanics, and more. Schools such as the Jack Yates Maritime and Logistics Academy and the Austin High School Maritime Academy, both in Houston, Texas, offer on-site forklift simulator training followed by real-world forklift practicals, fully paid TWIC cards, and campus certifications. Many of the high schools offering broadcasting have TV studios that rival local network affiliates. The same goes for culinary programs, dance, architecture, and construction, such as the Alief ISD Center for Advanced Careers in Houston, Texas. It has been shown in research by the Peabody Journal of Education that, "... districts should consider career-themed programs such as programs of study that enhance their existing college- and career-readiness initiatives," because past data has shown that, "...49.5% of students in the sample who began a CTE program of study had completed their programs and CTE participation led to higher cumulative GPA's."
K12 Internships. Corporations, Non-Profits, local Government, etc. can benefit from partnering with a high school that provides Career Readiness Pathways. Many businesses need interns and districts can work with companies to find solutions to student transportation to, and from work. K12 State-of-Texas Internships are governed by TEA with the appropriate Paid & Unpaid Training Plans. Internships are also for K12 credit, a major incentive and Win-Win for businesses and the participating students!
Maybe your nonprofit needs Audio Video help? Reach out to a local school district CTE office to get more information. What if you need forklift operators, graphic designers, or cooks? The same district CTE office can put you in touch with seniors graduating with those skills and certification. And if your business has a culture of community service, this should fit your goals.
The Challenges. Not all is roses. Despite the massive saturation of Career Readiness programs with modern facilities, most school districts struggle with long-term sustainability, qualified instructors, working facilities, and stable district CTE staff. The average teacher career in the late 20th century moving into the 21st has been three years. For CTE instructors there aren't many employment statistics to cite, however, in the Houston area the constant change in staff is stifling. The demand and popularity of Career Readiness programs is at an all-time high with principals, especially in decentralized districts. When principals ask, they receive. Want a Sports Media Magnet Academy...you got it! The district CTE office will work with the Principal, evaluate the Federal Perkins monies, and in most cases make it happen. Unfortunately, the vision is high, but the implementation is weak.
Resources, or lack thereof. Career Readiness teachers that come from industry don't receive extra pay in most districts. Usually, they will get base pay with no additional compensation for their skills. This isn't across the board in Texas, but it occurs. Second, those individuals coming right out of the industry into the classroom will have to pay to enroll in Teacher Certification courses. Next, once on campus and ready to instruct, the resources can be scarce and an uphill climb begins to get the needed hardware, software, and supplies. Many of these former industry professionals will have to use their network base to improve the program, get hardware repaired, push for partnerships and internships, and even spend money out of their own pocket for much needed items for instruction. Many will bring in their own equipment because the school program lacks it. This can occur for others reasons but there is a nationwide lack of training for principals on just what CTE is, and how to use Perkins monies properly. Furthermore, the turnover rate for CTE staff in central administration can be as high as local fast food chains. Further leaving teachers without the much needed resources of knowledge.
Nothing Works! Working facilities is a must these days. Students that graduate from a high school with a Career Readiness Pathway must be ready to join the workforce with employable skills. For many CTE teachers having to foot the bill for a load of the resources, it is a daunting task to nurture, and develop, skilled & highly competitive graduates. Federal Perkins monies are strictly to enhance CTE programs. From new, big ticket hardware, to the latest in modern software, those funds are essential to growing the pathway as a marketing tool to increase enrollment.
Fiscal Responsibility. A portion of CTE funds to purchase maintenance contracts is vital! To increase the long-term sustainability of the program and ensure there are no down-times with hardware, hindering the hands-on classroom instruction, should never be allowed. Despite maintenance contracts being a standard in business across the globe for most companies, it is sadly not a mandatory investment for K12 leadership, resulting in those industry instructors using their personal resources, adding to the ineffectiveness of the program after even one year of existence.
The State and District CTE Offices & Local Business. Whether or not we like it, The Suits are key! Yes! State office staff, along with district staff, has a high turnover rate and not enough workers for the field. This is a huge variable. Our students need opportunity and exposure. It is very difficult for an instructor to be the end-all, be-all. They don't have the time to make the calls, attend networking events with business leaders, visit local chambers, create various MOU letters for partnerships, etc. etc. The state and district offices should be responsible for this. Your executives from the state and district should meet with industry leaders, getting the MOU's signed and create connections that benefit our youth. Unfortunately, the instructors themselves bear this burden and with all the demands on them it is easy to understand their resignations after a three-year period. To add insult to injury, when those industry experts leave the classroom the school has to hire a substitute. Doing that is a penalty! All schools lose funding when a non-certified instructor is covering certification required classes further eroding any chances of a sustainable program that benefits generations to come.
What your organization can do. If you are a local business owner, or executive of any organization, this is where you can help bridge the gap. Adopt a local school CTE, or Magnet, program. Even if the expert teacher leaves, you can still provide resources and opportunities when the school is in a Career Readiness rut. If adopting the CTE program becomes a part of our business culture, then consider supplementing the expert instructors income as many K12 booster and alumni associations do. That contribution can help to create an environment of sustainability for the program and will benefit generations of students. This is also about accountability. It stresses to the state and district offices that a new vision, and restructuring, of CTE operations is a must. Your organization can even be the bridge to connect the local CTE program to the Texas Workforce Commission, local unions, colleges, and other career support agencies. Our youth deserve better. They shouldn't have to attend a school with a floundering CTE program that pushes them away from what was once an interest while the state and district leaders pressure campuses to fulfill the demands of today's TEA Career Readiness goals on-top of the academic goals.
These are exciting times for our youth. Let's help them, their schools, and districts remove the gaps with accountability and witness CTE in action as it was designed for many decades ago...STEM & STEAM in-action, in the real world.
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