 Curriculum:: Career & Technical Education
The State Plan for Career and Technical Education is based
on the following two goals that were established by the 74th legislature in
TEC 29.181:
Each public school student shall master the basic skills
and knowledge necessary for:
(1) managing the dual roles of family member and wage earner;
(2) gaining entry-level employment in a high-skill, high–wage
job or continuing the student’s education at the post-secondary level.
The programs offered in the Career and Technical Education
Department support academic excellence, quality guidance and counseling, partnerships
that benefit students and schools, strong curriculum, professional development
for educators, and ongoing evaluation.
High School Concentrations
The curricula for all Career and Technical Education courses
and programs integrate high-level academic concepts and industry standards
to reinforce academic concepts tested on the statewide academic achievement
tests (TAKS – Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills) and help students
learn workplace competencies. The Career and Technical Education courses
offered under each program area are organized under the six career concentration
areas listed below:
- Agricultural Science and Technology
- Business and Marketing
- Health Science Technology
- Human Development, Management, and Services
- Industrial and Engineering Technology
- Personal, Military, and Protective Services.
Many of the Career and Technical Education courses are articulated
with community colleges through a statewide initiative called “Tech
Prep” to give students the opportunity to earn college credits and/or
certifications as well as high school graduation credits if they maintain
an 80 or above average in the course. For more information about articulated
courses and credits, please click on the CTE Connection Guide or visit the Tech Prep web site for Texas.
Courses for College Credit
Concurrent College Enrollment / Dual-Credit Courses
Juniors and seniors may concurrently enroll in college courses
at Austin Community College, Temple Junior College, or Southwestern University
if they qualify for admission. If a student is eligible to register for courses
at Austin Community College under the Early College Start program, he/she
will not be responsible for the tuition costs. However, he/she will be responsible
for any lab or textbook expenses required for the course.
Technical Preparation Courses for College Credit
Many of the courses offered through the Career and Technical
Education Department will articulate with post-secondary institutions offering
associate degree programs through a statewide initiative called Tech
Prep (Technical Preparation). Under the Tech Prep
program, students receive high school credits as well as college credits at
the same time for each articulated courses they successfully complete with
an 80 or above average without paying college tuition. The school district
has local articulation agreements on file with Austin Community College as
well as statewide articulation agreements throughout the state. These college
credits awarded to high school students are called “credits-in-escrow”
and are added to students’ transcripts after he/she
graduates and completes one 3-hour course at the respective college.
Career Connections
 Career
Connections is the semester education/career exploratory course offered at
the 8th grade level. While the classroom management plan models the business
environment with students clocking into class and receiving “pay”
for completing their classroom “job” assignments, the curriculum
focuses on helping students develop employability skills and explore education
and career opportunities in their interest area. All 8th grade students complete
a career interest assessment to identify their individual interest area. They
use this information to explore each of their identified career interest areas
so they can develop their four-year high school graduation plan based on their
education and career goals.
Business Link is the culminating activity for 8th grade
students enrolled in the Career Connections course. Parents, business, and
community representatives work together to assist placing and supervising
8th grade students in this one-day job shadowing experience in industry in
their career interest area. Business Link is sponsored by Partners in Education
and the Career and Technical Education Department.
For more information on the programs and services offered
through Career and Technical Education, please visit the links in the side
bar or contact:
Phil Timmons
Director of Career and Technical Education
Georgetown Independent School District
603 Lakeway Drive, Georgetown, TX 78628
Email: TimmonsP@georgetownisd.org
Phone: (512) 943-5000 Ext. 6040
Lana Weeks
Career and Technical Education Administrative Assistant
GHS Annex, Room 134
Email: WeeksL@georgetownisd.org
Phone: (512) 943-5000 x. 7550
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