Bryan ISD details plan to expand CTE pathways at MC Harris, add entrepreneurship and career-prep options

Bryan ISD trustees heard a detailed presentation on expanding Career and Technical Education (CTE) at MC Harris that would let more students begin CTE pathways as early as ninth grade and move into career-prep experiences, industry certifications and off-campus work-based learning.

The plan, presented by district CTE staff and administrators, would start ninth-graders in a principles/entrepreneurship course at MC Harris, then route students into existing CTE offerings at the district CTEC complex (construction, welding, engineering, automotive) and other partner locations. The presentation described additional program options under consideration — culinary (pending facility planning), cosmetology through local industry partners, and an early-learning practicum tied to child development courses — plus a career-prep work-release credit at the fourth level of certification.

Why it matters: district and board members framed the expansion as an option for students who do not plan to pursue traditional four‑year college paths and as a way to connect training directly to local labor needs. Presenters said the model can accelerate credit recovery for students who are behind and create predictable CTE-focused pathways beginning in ninth grade.

Details and timeline

- The district said the work began in 2022 as a series of small proofs-of-concept pairing comprehensive high school CTE instruction with MC Harrisflexibility for credit recovery; the district then piloted single ninth- and tenth-grade classes before proposing a broader roll-out for fall 2025. "We're in the top 3% of the entire state as it relates to CTE," the presenter said during the recognition portion, describing the district's existing strengths.

- Core sequence: ninth-grade entrepreneurship/principles at MC Harris; tenth-grade and beyond join existing CTEC sequences (Construction Tech I/II, welding, engineering, automotive) with industry-based certifications and a fourth-level career-prep practicum that can be on- or off-campus.

- Other offerings: culinary if campus cafeteria space proves usable; cosmetology through off-campus partners who would host students for required hours; early learning practicum that could employ students as instructional aides on Bryan ISD campuses.

- Transportation and funding: presenters said transportation would be provided and that Carl Perkins funding and Perkins reimbursement rules help cover CTE-related mileage. "We want to eliminate as many barriers as possible," Laura King said; later she added that CTE transport mileage is reimbursable under Perkins. The district said reimbursement reduces out-of-pocket transportation costs for students.

- Capacity and staffing: presenters estimated current MC Harris enrollment around 170 and said the program could expand substantially using flexible scheduling and partnerships; they noted the likely need over time for additional direct-teach staff (English, math, science) at MC Harris as the program grows and for teachers willing to obtain additional certifications. The district described flexible options such as splitting students between MC Harris and the CTEC complex and using online coursework to let students progress at their own pace.

Questions and board comments

Trustees asked about student transportation, credentialing and quality control for off-campus career-prep placements; presenters said teachers make workplace visits, keep records and that TEA audits require documentation of worksite supervision. The district noted it already follows a process of employer verification and site visits for career-prep credit.

Board members praised the proposal as an "innovative" and "long-awaited" approach to provide workforce alternatives and asked to be kept informed as the program expands.

What this is not: the board took no formal vote on the MC Harris expansion during the meeting; the item was presented as an information update and discussion.