Career education opportunities open up for Houston-area students

Jun 18, 2014

The Texas Education Agency (TEA), Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) and Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) awarded Houston Community College, Houston Independent School District and Alief Independent School District a $600,000 THECB Early College High School grant.

In an unprecedented partnership, each of the state agencies committed funding to support innovative education partnerships between local school districts and public community or technical colleges. The funding will help local education leaders plan and launch new opportunities for students to simultaneously earn a high school diploma and a postsecondary credential that prepares them to enter high-skill, high-demand workforce fields.

“Partnerships are vital to the collective success of our region and state,” said Dr. Cesar Maldonado, HCC Chancellor. “HCC is committed to working closely with our key stakeholders like Houston and Alief Independent School Districts, the Greater Houston Partnership, industry leaders and other key stakeholders to ensure the success of our students, which is critical to the success of our community, now and in the future.”

Michael Williams, TEA Commissioner; Raymund Paredes, THECB Commissioner; and Andres Alcantar, TWC Chairman presented the grant to Dr. Maldonado. State Representative Mary Ann Perez, and members of the Houston-area business and industry community were on hand to lend their support of this state initiative. The grant will create new career and technical education early college high school opportunities for Houston students.

The initiative is designed to prepare tomorrow’s workforce with crucial middle-skills and industry-recognized certifications that will help alleviate the workforce shortages that many regional employers are currently facing.