February is National CTE Month

On behalf of the Texas Education Agency’s College, Career, and Military Preparation staff, we wish you a Happy CTE Month. CTE Month is a national celebration of the impact of CTE on learners, families, educators, our workforce, and our communities! We join the nation in celebrating the teachers, counselors, and administrators who provide students with quality CTE programs that prepare them for high-wage, high-skill, and in-demand occupations. We also recognize our industry partners who add value to CTE programs in Texas by enabling students to have engaging work-based learning experiences. As we celebrate National CTE month, we are grateful for all who prepare our students for college, career, and military postsecondary success.

CTE Programs of Study Refresh

TEA will engage stakeholders throughout Spring 2023 to review the current programs of study and consider updates. TEA first published programs of study in Summer 2019 for implementation in the 2020-21 school year and committed to a 4-year review cycle. TEA will gather input from across Texas by conducting six regional listening tours. The listening tours will include feedback sessions for school district personnel, industry and business leaders, parents, and students. Information gathered from the listening tours will be used by an advisory committee comprised of industry, education, and government leaders in each of the career clusters to make recommendations for the programs of study refresh. To learn more about the opportunities to participate in one of the listening tours, or apply to be part of the advisory committee, watch for additional details in the TEA CTE listserv over the next few months.

CTE Summer 2023 TEKS Review Work Group Application

The State Board of Education (SBOE) is scheduled to continue the review and revision of Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for Career and Technical Education (CTE) in Summer 2023. The summer review will include a set of courses from the Animal Science, Plant Science, and Agribusiness programs of study in the Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources career cluster and two CTE courses that can satisfy a science graduation requirement: Principles of Technology and Scientific Research and Design.

The SBOE’s TEKS review and revision process requires the direct participation of educators, parents, business and industry representatives, and employers. The SBOE is now accepting applications for the Summer 2023 CTE TEKS review work groups. Applications will be submitted to SBOE members for approval in February – March. TEKS review work groups will convene for at least two face-to-face meetings in Austin which may include Saturdays. Additional days or virtual meetings may be scheduled if needed. TEA reimburses work group members for their travel and meal expenses. Work group members will be expected to complete an online orientation session and may be asked to complete pre-work exercises prior to their meeting.

To access the application and more information regarding the Summer 2023 CTE TEKS review, please visit the Summer 2023 CTE TEKS Review webpage at https://tea.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_exGr3G15yQGU9Qq.

Interested individuals are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible. The application deadline is Monday, March 27, 2023.

Questions regarding the application or TEKS review process may be sent via email to teks@tea.texas.gov.

New Occupational Safey and Health TEKS Draft Recommendations

At the January-February 2023 State Board of Education meeting, the board approved the development of Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for a new CTE course. Draft recommendations for the proposed new course, Occupational Safety and Health, are posted for feedback on the 2023 CTE TEKS Review web page . Please share this information with anyone you know who may be interested.

When providing specific comments and recommendations, please identify the course in the subject line of the email. For example, in the subject line, please indicate "CTE TEKS Review - Occupational Safety and Health." Please submit comments to TEA at teks@tea.texas.gov.