ALIGNED INITIATIVES

Building a Talent Strong Texas
Lead Agency: THECB

Building a Talent Strong Texas is the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s strategic plan for higher education that ensures there’s a place for all Texans in tomorrow’s economy.

This initiative is aligned with the following TRPN components of high-quality pathways:

• Cross-sector partnerships

• Alignment with Labor Market Demand

• Links between secondary and postsecondary 

• Credentials with value in the labor market

• Integration of rigorous academics and career-focused learning

• Effective Advising

• Continuum of Work-Based Learning experiences

Career and Technical Education (CTE)
Lead Agency: TEA

CTE programs offer a sequence of courses that provides students with coherent and rigorous content. CTE content is aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in current or emerging professions.

This initiative is aligned with the following TRPN components of high-quality pathways:

• Cross-sector partnerships

• Alignment with Labor Market Demand

• Links between secondary and postsecondary 

• Credentials with value in the labor market

• Integration of rigorous academics and career-focused learning

• Effective Advising

• Continuum of Work-Based Learning experiences

College and Career Readiness School Models (CCRSM)
Lead Agency: TEA

CCRSMs are open enrollment programs that blend high school and college coursework to help historically underserved and at-risk students develop technical skills, earn college credentials and degrees, and pursue in-demand career paths.

This initiative is aligned with the following TRPN components of high-quality pathways:

• Cross-sector partnerships

• Alignment with Labor Market Demand

• Links between secondary and postsecondary 

• Credentials with value in the labor market

• Integration of rigorous academics and career-focused learning

• Effective Advising

• Continuum of Work-Based Learning experiences

Effective Advising Framework (EAF)
Lead Agency: TEA

The EAF empowers every student to engage in individual career and academic planning and equips educators with the knowledge, resources, and time to support all students in planning and preparing for postsecondary success. Effective advising leverages internal partners, external partners, and high-quality advising materials and assessments to support the whole child in postsecondary planning and preparation.

This initiative is aligned with the following TRPN components of high-quality pathways:

• Cross-sector partnerships

• Alignment with Labor Market Demand

• Links between secondary and postsecondary 

• Effective Advising

Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) Grant Program
Lead Agency: TWC

The JET program provides grants to buy and install equipment for career and technical education (CTE) courses. These courses must lead to a license, certificate or post-secondary degree in a high-demand occupation.

This initiative is aligned with the following TRPN components of high-quality pathways:

• Cross-sector partnerships

• Alignment with Labor Market Demand

• Links between secondary and postsecondary 

• Credentials with value in the labor market

• Integration of rigorous academics and career-focused learning

• Effective Advising

• Continuum of Work-Based Learning experiences

Industry-Based Certifications (IBCs)
Lead Agencies: TEA, THECB, TWC

An IBC is a specific type of credential that validates that an individual possesses certain industry-specific skills related to a career cluster or occupation and is measured against a set of accepted industry standards. TEA and TWC both publish IBS lists. TWC’s list of industry-recognized credentials may be used to provide additional opportunities to meet the educational and career goals of students. TEA’s IBC list is used to demonstrate college and career readiness within Texas’ K-12 accountability system. THECB’s new community college outcomes-based funding is linked to students earning credentials of value. 

This initiative is aligned with the following TRPN components of high-quality pathways:

• Cross-sector partnerships

• Alignment with Labor Market Demand

• Links between secondary and postsecondary 

• Credentials with value in the labor market

• Integration of rigorous academics and career-focused learning

• Effective Advising

K-12 Advanced Academics
Lead Agency: TEA

Advanced Academics, including courses, programs, assessments, services and supports, provide opportunities for students to demonstrate college and career readiness and earn postsecondary credit.

This initiative is aligned with the following TRPN components of high-quality pathways:

• Links between secondary and postsecondary 

• Credentials with value in the labor market

• Integration of rigorous academics and career-focused learning

My Texas Future
Lead Agency: THECB

My Texas Future partners with colleges and universities across Texas to help students explore and compare college programs. THECB collaborates with higher education institutions to implement My Texas Future, a comprehensive digital tool complemented by in-person assistance. The initiative aims to broaden educational prospects for all Texans. The program focuses on expanding opportunities and providing tailored support to enhance access and success in higher education across the state.  

This initiative is aligned with the following TRPN components of high-quality pathways:

• Alignment with Labor Market Demand

• Links between secondary and postsecondary 

• Credentials with value in the labor market

• Effective Advising

Tri-Agency Strategic Framework for Work-Based Learning
Lead Agencies: TEA, THECB, TWC

To further expand and improve work-based learning (WBL) opportunities in Texas, the Tri-Agency Strategic Framework for Work-Based Learning establishes a functional definition of WBL organizes programs by type, and provides program implementation, quality assurances, accountability, and support mechanisms for program providers.  

This initiative is aligned with the following TRPN components of high-quality pathways:

• Cross-sector partnerships

• Alignment with Labor Market Demand

• Links between secondary and postsecondary 

• Credentials with value in the labor market

• Integration of rigorous academics and career-focused learning

• Effective Advising

• Continuum of Work-Based Learning experiences

TXWORKS Internship Program

Lead Agency: THECB

Texas Working Off-Campus: Reinforcing Knowledge and Skills (TXWORKS) Internship Program is a paid internship opportunity developed exclusively for Texas undergraduate students. Eligible and selected students may have the opportunity to intern a minimum of 96 hours over an internship period, earn a minimum of $15 per hour, work in-person, hybrid, or remote, and participate in meaningful, challenging, real-world work experiences.

 This initiative is aligned with the following TRPN components of high-quality pathways:

• Cross-sector partnerships

• Alignment with Labor Market Demand

• Effective Advising

• Continuum of Work-Based Learning experiences