Students, schools, and businesses all benefit from career and technical education (CTE) programs that have value in the marketplace. Better aligning the incentives of schools to deliver these programs with the needs of local labor markets has the potential to create opportunity for more students.

Key points:

  • Career and technical education (CTE) in Texas has the potential to open pathways to prosperity for students regardless of whether they immediately attend college or not.
  • CTE at the school and district levels could be better aligned with regional workforce needs.
  • Partnerships between high schools and businesses can help bridge the so-called skills gap.
  • Paid internships using the CTE allocation for students finishing a program of study, better outcomes bonus metrics, and improved transparency of longitudinal outcomes for high school student pathways have the potential to improve the economic mobility of Texas’ young workforce and the competitiveness of regional economies.