In 2023, the U.S. Department of Education announced the "Raise the Bar: Lead the World" initiative to use decades of research and professional experience to transform public education and advance education equity. There are three focus areas: (1) Achieve Academic Excellence; (2) Boldly Improve Learning Conditions; and (3) Create Pathways…

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, state education leaders have been developing numerous innovative approaches to supporting high school students who are pursuing career pathways and preparing them for successful outcomes beyond secondary education. This topical brief summarizes state needs and strategies related to supporting…

As a result of a call by Texas agencies for demonstration programs in regional planning to assist economic development by educating the work force, three models were funded in December 1987, with plans to continue operating through June 30, 1989. One of the projects is being conducted by the Upper Rio Grande Private Industry Council in El Paso for…

This guide is designed to serve as (1) instructional materials for training those assigned to provide technical assistance in the regional planning and articulation of vocational education and (2) a resource to familiarize and train the recipients of the planning processes. Addressed in the individual chapters of the manual are the following…

A project was undertaken to (1) develop a model for regional planning of vocational education based on service center regions in Texas; (2) establish an effective communications system for providers of occupational education in the state; (3) provide a process for the inservice training of participants in regional vocational planning; and (4)…

This report includes a career education model and six recommendations made as "next steps" to the comprehensive recommendations made in previous reports by the Advisory Council for Technical-Vocational Education in Texas to the State Board for Vocational Education. Part II provides background material for the Council's recommendations…

The master plan set forth in this document is the blueprint for restructuring vocational education in Texas. At the elementary and secondary level, the State Board of Education's mission for public education calls for all students to receive an education that will enable them to live and work in a changing society. To fulfill this mission, the…

This manual was developed to help expedite the efforts of postsecondary vocational education and Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) programs in developing comprehensive strategies, by joint planning, to serve the common targeted populations of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act of 1984 and JTPA. It is a supplement to "Navigating…

In order to evaluate proposals seeking state funds from the Division of Occupational Research and Development of the Texas Education Agency for pilot vocational education programs for the handicapped, there must first be a specific state plan. This state plan should clearly specify first and fifth year goals and resolve whether the primary…

A partnership among the Texas Education Agency, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and the Texas Department of Commerce was formed in 1987 to challenge representatives from education, training, business, industry, and labor to adopt a cooperative regional view of common needs and proposed solutions. As a result, 24 Quality Work Force…

A study examined the ways in which practitioners in four states were defining the terms coordination/cooperation/collaboration when directing the monies set aside in Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) funding for use in coordination among educators and job training providers. Case studies of the use of 8 percent set-aside monies were conducted in…

The administrative provisions of the Texas plan for vocational education are presented. Information is provided concerning the State board; public hearings; qualifications, preparation, and development of professional personnel; program evaluation; State reports; cooperative arrangements; vocational education under contract; construction…

Three issues concerning the provision of occupational education in the community college are addressed in this paper. First, trends in business and industry are identified which point to an increased role for the colleges in training skilled technicians for high-technology industries. The problems of skilled labor shortages and lack of…

This biennial report presents: (1) information regarding progress under and compliance with the master plan for vocational education in Texas during the school years 1986-87 and 1987-88 and information regarding activities conducted during the 1988-89 school year where appropriate; and (2) quantitative and qualitative evaluative information on…

In January 1987, a Master Plan for the delivery of vocational and technical education in Texas was adopted by the State Board of Education (SBOE). The master plan details goals and strategies to assist in the development of a skilled and educated work force in Texas as the state enters the 21st century. As part of their mandated annual review…