Roger Williams urges renewed focus on trade schools and backs college-cost disclosure bill

Congressman Roger Williams said Monday that Texas needs to revitalize vocational education to keep students engaged and supply the skilled labor market. "We've got a 100,000 kids every year in Texas alone dropping out of school in the ninth grade," Williams said, arguing many of those students could be steered to trades such as welding, plumbing and carpentry.

Williams said trade careers can lead to steady work and less debt than four-year degrees, and called for restoring mandatory shop and home-economics classes that used to be part of standard curricula. "When we were in school, you had to take ... metal shop or wood shop, and the girls took home economics," he said, adding that schools should again require exposure to trade skills.

He also pointed to a pending bill that would require public four-year colleges to disclose the cost of attendance alongside trade-school options so students can compare pathways before committing. "We've even got a bill out there now that says the 4 year state colleges have to explain ... the cost ... or to go to a trade school before these kids commit," Williams said; he did not specify the bill number or current legislative stage.

Williams framed the push as a workforce imperative for Texas, citing shortages in construction-related trades and welders in particular. He said expanding access to trade training could allow students to enter the labor market sooner and start businesses that employ others.

The interview did not include details on the bill's sponsor, text, or legislative timetable; Williams described it as "out there now" but gave no further status. No formal votes or committee actions were reported during the segment.