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Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Work-Based Learning (WBL) programs are effective strategies to ensure that students have the opportunity, experience, and credentials to pursue meaningful careers after high school. Funding for this program is intended to provide support for districts to offer students greater access to career opportunities. This grant program directly aligns with the Texas Education Agency’s strategic plan that focuses on preparing every child for success in college and career, including careers in the military.

Career and Technical Education aligns Texas’s education goals with its diverse industry needs and opportunities; ensuring that all Texas high school students have access to high-quality career and education pathways to postsecondary success. Programs of study are course sequences that prepare students with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in their chosen career. These sequences embed relevant, real-world experiences and can culminate in a postsecondary credential. CTE programs of study emphasize earning industry-based credentials, participating in work-based learning activities, as well as learning about and demonstrating employability skills. Work-Based Learning opportunities provide students with real-world experiences they can use to transition directly into the workforce or can be building blocks toward postsecondary education.

Work-Based Learning is a proven instructional method and strategy for helping students of all ages and abilities to acquire and improve academic, technical, and employability skills. When implemented with fidelity, work-based learning leads to positive outcomes for students, training sponsors, schools, and communities. Student benefits include learning and developing employability skills in actual workplaces, smoother transitions from education into the workforce, and improved outcomes such as employment and postsecondary attendance. Training sponsor benefits include the creation of a pool of skilled and motivated employees, overall reduced training costs, and improved employee retention and morale. School benefits include making education more relevant and valuable for students, gaining access to workplace facilities, techniques, and technology, and promoting faculty interaction with the community. Community benefits include increasing the number of workplace-ready individuals who become economically productive members of society and improving the stability of the workforce and economy.

The Texas Education Agency will distribute grant funds to eligible applicants through a competitive application process. Awarded funds must be used as described by the General Appropriations Act, House Bill 1, Article IX, Section 18.114(c)(v) Contingency for HB 3.

Grant Period

From June 6, 2022, to September 30, 2022.

Applications and Award

The following table links to scanned copies of all applications eligible for competitive review and indicates which applicant(s) are preliminarily selected to receive an award, pending successful completion of fiscal and programmatic review and negotiation.