SB 473 would expand curriculum options for Texas high school students, allowing career and technical education courses to count towards graduation requirements.
AUSTIN, TX – Today, Senator Charles Schwertner (R-Georgetown) filed SB 473 to improve access to career and technical education (CTE) coursework for Texas high school students. Currently, students must take one credit of fine arts but CTE courses cannot count towards that necessary credit. SB 473 would allow students to satisfy the fine arts requirement by taking a CTE course instead. This legislation provides students with the freedom to select coursework that better aligns with future career goals.
“Attending a four-year college or university is not, and should not, be the only option for high school graduates in Texas,” said Senator Schwertner. “The Texas Legislature has worked to provide students with opportunities to graduate with career and technical education certifications and experience so they have the option to enter the workforce immediately after graduating. SB 473 will give these students more choices to pursue the path that is best for them, whether that is college, a career, or joining the military.”
According to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau, only 29 percent of Texans have a bachelor’s degree. Over the next decade, up to 30 percent of all new jobs in Texas are expected to be in construction trades or manufacturing. To meet this growing demand, Texas must continue to support and invest in our existing CTE programs.
“By providing a choice between fine arts and CTE courses,” said Senator Schwertner, “students can obtain professional credentials faster, allowing them to graduate and enter their desired career field, giving them the economic freedom to pursue their own American Dream while creating a strong workforce for the state of Texas.”
In November 2018, Dr. Charles Schwertner was reelected to serve the citizens of Senate District 5, a ten-county region of central and east Texas.
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