Governor Rick Perry called for more career and technical programs—in addition to expanding charter schools and implementing a tax-credit scholarship program—during his address to the State Board of Education and its eight newly elected members this morning.
“Texas' academic future must be built on the flexibility necessary to serve those different students,” he said.
For Perry, that flexibility includes doubling the career and technical programs that he says help students get high-skill, well-paying jobs.
“Those courses and fields as far ranging as engineering and veterinary science are efficient, they’re common sense ways to prepare students to graduate ready for those hard to fill jobs across the state,” he added.
Yesterday, State Senator Dan Patrick (R-Houston) filed a bill that emphasizes workforce development and creates a program for eighth grades to chart their educational course through high school. It is one of several bills that would give students more options to pursue post-secondary education paths outside traditional four-year university programs.
