Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Cte Programs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
United ISD CTE Update: District Ranks High on Industry Certifications; Veterinary Assistant Program Proposed
Summary
CTE staff reported strong district performance on CTE completion and industry certifications and presented a proposed four‑year Certified Veterinary Assistant pathway requiring classroom instruction, practicum partnerships with veterinary clinics and district investment in staffing and equipment.
United ISD’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) leaders told the board the district outperforms state averages on students completing CTE sequences and earning industry‑based certifications, and presented a proposed certified veterinary assistant (CVA) program that would require classroom hours, clinic practicums and additional district resources.
Dr. Angelica Sanchez, presenting CTE data, said the district’s CTE completion rate for the class of 2023 stood at about 75% in the presenter’s report, above regional and state averages, and noted industry certification rates had risen post‑COVID to roughly 60% compared with a state rate the presenter gave as 33%. "We are progressing in that area," Sanchez said, attributing success to schedule flexibility (an accelerated 5x5 block schedule), counselor scheduling support and teacher and administrator coordination.
Veterinary program proposal: Sanchez described a four‑year veterinary science program that follows state program‑of‑study rules and leads to a Certified Veterinary Assistant Level 1 credential from the Texas Veterinary Medical Association (presentation described credentialing requirements). Key components she identified: - Prerequisites: students must complete introductory agriculture courses (principles of agriculture and livestock) before entry. - Classroom: roughly 200 classroom hours (junior year) and a senior‑year double‑block practicum to complete required hands‑on time. - Practicum: the program requires about 300 supervised hours with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or licensed vet technician; clinics must validate mastery of about 78 skills. - Cohort and location: initial cohort size estimated at 15 students, contingent on the number of clinics able to partner; campus location would need water and plumbing for animal wash stations and may affect existing ag program enrollments. - Costs: Sanchez presented several cost categories: recurring student training materials (~$3,600/year), teacher professional development (~$3,000), medical/consumable supplies (~$4,500), exam fee reported at $145 per student, transportation costs to clinics (covered by CTE transportation allotment), and a one‑time equipment/furniture estimate presented verbally (district noted Perkins funds could cover equipment purchases).
Sanchez said the district has contacted local veterinary clinics and that several clinics indicated willingness to accept students, but corporate approvals may be required. She said the program would need at least one additional CTE instructor and that the program’s recommended student‑to‑teacher ratio would be about 15 per cohort (a two‑year reach of 30 students per added teacher, with the teacher providing service to other campus CTE needs as well).
Why it matters: The proposed CVA pathway would create a locally available credential aligned to veterinary employment and farm/livestock services, reducing the need for students to travel out of the district for similar programming.
What’s next: Sanchez said staff will continue clinic outreach, confirm equipment estimates, and return with a formal implementation proposal if sufficient clinic partnerships, campus space and funding are available.
