Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Career Technical Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Wichita Falls ISD highlights CTE growth, certifications and new employer partnerships
Summary
District staff reported rising CTE enrollment at the Career Education Center and new programs including middle school CTE courses, a proposed jailer training partnership with Wichita County, expanded industry certifications and a May 2 College & Career Fair with 50 vendors.
District career and technical education staff told the Wichita Falls ISD board the Career Education Center (CEC) continues to expand and is increasing the number of students who graduate with industry certifications.
A district CTE presenter said enrollment at the CEC has increased modestly year over year and that the district added middle-school CTE offerings for eighth graders to expose students earlier to career pathways. "We added some middle school for all eighth graders — professional communications and interdisciplinary studies — so they're getting weighted funding and exposure to career options," the presenter said.
Nut graf: CTE leaders told trustees the district is expanding course offerings, industry certifications and community partnerships to give students multiple post-graduation pathways, from direct employment to college.
The presenter listed numerous Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) successes, including SkillsUSA, ProStart and HOSA competitors advancing to state contests. Staff said 599 students earned certifications last year and that industry-based certification testing is happening regularly across programs such as CNA and cosmetology.
Staff also described new and ongoing community partnerships: a jailer-school training partnership with Wichita County to prepare law-enforcement-track seniors for corrections careers; donations of funeral-arrangement materials for floral-design students; and employer engagement for the college-and-career fair scheduled for May 2 with about 50 colleges and employers signed up. The CTE presenter said the district will pilot a signing event for students who commit to employers or colleges during the fair.
Ending: The district said summer CEC classes and a series of certification celebrations are planned; staff asked trustees to continue supporting CTE expansion and community partnerships.
