Texas operates the largest career and technical education system in the United States, serving approximately 1.8 million secondary students across more than 1,200 school districts. The state's CTE programs are organized around 16 career clusters with over 60 defined programs of study, reflecting the enormous scale and diversity of the Texas economy.
The Texas Education Agency's College, Career, and Military Preparation (CCMP) Division oversees CTE program standards and accountability, while local school districts have significant autonomy in program selection and implementation. This decentralized approach allows districts to tailor CTE offerings to their regional economic conditions, from the energy sector in West Texas to the technology industry in Austin and the healthcare sector in Houston.
Texas has invested heavily in CTE through initiatives such as the designation of Programs of Study and the expansion of industry-based certifications. The state's strong emphasis on college, career, and military readiness ensures that CTE is positioned as a central component of the high school experience rather than an alternative track. Texas also benefits from extensive partnerships with community colleges, technical schools, and employers that provide dual credit, work-based learning, and apprenticeship opportunities.
Standards & Alignment
Texas CTE programs follow the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for Career and Technical Education, which define the content and performance expectations for each CTE course. The TEKS are developed through a formal review process that includes input from educators, industry representatives, and postsecondary partners.
The state requires CTE programs of study to align with industry standards and to incorporate opportunities for students to earn industry-based certifications. Texas also integrates CTE with the state's college and career readiness standards, ensuring that career-technical coursework contributes to graduation requirements and postsecondary preparation.
Key Challenges
The sheer scale of Texas's CTE system presents unique challenges in maintaining program quality and consistency across more than 1,200 districts. Vast geographic distances, particularly in rural West Texas, make it difficult to provide comprehensive CTE access to all students. The state has invested in virtual learning and regional service center support, but access gaps remain.
Texas faces significant CTE teacher shortages, particularly in STEM-related fields, healthcare, and skilled trades. The state's rapid population growth compounds this challenge, as new schools and programs require additional qualified instructors. Texas has implemented alternative certification pathways and industry professional teaching permits, but the demand for qualified CTE teachers continues to outpace supply.
Struggling with these challenges in Texas?
Perkins V in Texas
Texas's Perkins V state plan emphasizes expanding access to high-quality CTE programs, with a focus on improving outcomes for special populations and rural students. The plan calls for strengthening the alignment between CTE programs of study and labor market demands through enhanced data analysis and stakeholder engagement.
Key priorities include increasing the number of students earning industry-based certifications, expanding work-based learning opportunities, and improving the transition rates of CTE completers into postsecondary education, employment, or military service. Texas has also committed to supporting local education agencies in conducting comprehensive local needs assessments and using the results to drive program improvement.
Texas CTE Resources
Essential links for CTE educators and administrators in Texas.
State CTE Agency
Texas Education Agency, College, Career, and Military Preparation Division
Official CTE division of the Texas Department of Education
Course Standards & Frameworks
Texas CTE Course Standards
State-approved standards, course sequences, and pathway frameworks
National Profile
Texas on Advance CTE
Enrollment data, Perkins funding, and state comparisons
How Sage Helps Texas CTE Programs
AI-Powered Curriculum
Generate standards-aligned lesson plans in minutes, not months
Texas Standards Built In
Pre-loaded with Texas's CTE standards and frameworks
Teacher Customization
Teachers personalize content while maintaining standards alignment
Ongoing Updates
Curriculum stays current as Texas standards and industry needs evolve
"Together with Sage, we're rewriting the future — accelerating timelines, giving teachers precious time to focus on students, and helping schools retain and support the passionate educators who make it all possible."
Lynne Wilson
CTE Director, CTAERN
Frequently Asked Questions
Texas offers CTE programs across 16 career clusters. These programs provide students with hands-on career preparation aligned with industry needs.
Texas aligns CTE curriculum with industry standards through a comprehensive process that includes working with industry advisory boards, mapping to state and national standards, and regularly updating programs to reflect current workplace requirements. This ensures students graduate with relevant, job-ready skills.
Perkins V is federal funding that supports Career Technical Education programs in Texas. This funding helps schools purchase equipment, develop curriculum, provide professional development for teachers, and ensure CTE programs meet quality standards that prepare students for high-skill, high-wage careers.
Sage uses AI to help Texas educators build standards-aligned CTE curriculum in weeks instead of months. Our platform generates customized lesson plans, assessments, and resources tailored to Texas standards, saving teachers countless hours while ensuring high-quality, industry-aligned content.
Explore Other States
Arkansas
ARArkansas operates a comprehensive Career and Technical Education system that serves students through secondary programs in public schools and a robust network of postsecondary institutions. The state's CTE offerings are organized around 16 career clusters and more than 90 individual programs of study that prepare students for high-demand careers in Arkansas. The Arkansas Division of Career and Technical Education works closely with the state's two-year colleges and technical institutes to create seamless pathways from high school through postsecondary credentials and into the workforce. Arkansas has made significant investments in CTE program quality, including competitive grant programs for equipment upgrades and facility improvements. Arkansas has also been a leader in the region for integrating computer science education into its CTE offerings, requiring all high schools to offer computer science courses and embedding digital literacy across career pathways.
SoutheastLouisiana
LALouisiana's Jump Start program represents one of the most innovative approaches to Career and Technical Education in the nation. Launched as a key component of the state's education reform efforts, Jump Start provides high school students with industry-valued credentials and workplace experiences that prepare them for high-demand careers. The program operates across all public school districts and emphasizes strong partnerships between schools and regional industries. The state organizes its CTE offerings around regional labor market needs, ensuring that programs align with the economic realities of different parts of Louisiana. From petrochemical industries along the Gulf Coast to healthcare systems in urban centers like New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Jump Start pathways reflect the diverse economic landscape of the state. Louisiana has invested heavily in work-based learning opportunities, requiring students to earn industry-based credentials as part of their graduation pathway. This emphasis on credentials has helped the state achieve strong outcomes in connecting education to employment, particularly in high-demand sectors like energy, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing.
SoutheastNew Mexico
NMNew Mexico's Career and Technical Education system serves a diverse student population across a geographically vast state with unique economic and cultural characteristics. CTE programs operate through local school districts, regional education cooperatives, and postsecondary institutions, with a focus on preparing students for careers in the state's key industries. The state's economy is shaped by distinctive sectors including energy (oil, gas, and renewable), federal research laboratories, military installations, agriculture, healthcare, and tourism. New Mexico's CTE programs reflect these economic drivers while also addressing the workforce needs of tribal communities and rural areas that comprise much of the state. New Mexico has placed particular emphasis on serving its culturally diverse student population, including significant Native American and Hispanic communities. The state's CTE system incorporates cultural responsiveness into program design and works to ensure that career pathways are accessible to students in every corner of the state.
SouthwestOklahoma
OKOklahoma's career and technology education system is recognized nationally for its comprehensive approach to preparing students for both college and career success. The Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education (ODCTE) oversees a statewide network of technology center districts and comprehensive school programs that serve over 130,000 secondary and adult students each year. The state's CareerTech system operates through 29 technology center districts with 59 campuses, providing hands-on training in more than 90 career majors. Oklahoma's technology centers are distinctive in that they serve both secondary students who attend part-time and adult learners seeking new skills or career changes, creating a uniquely integrated approach to workforce development. Oklahoma has consistently invested in aligning its CareerTech programs with state economic priorities, including aerospace, energy, agriculture, and healthcare. The state's strong industry partnerships ensure that program content remains relevant and that students have access to internships, apprenticeships, and job placement services upon completion.
SouthwestReady to Transform CTE in Texas?
See how Sage can help you build standards-aligned CTE programs at scale.