ESC Region 14 CTE Newsletter

Connecting Region 14 students to high-demand, high-wage careers in Texas.

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CTE Leadership Trainings - for CTE directors, counselors, and administrators.Topics include legislative updates, partner connections, best practices, and more.

CTE Administrator Deep Dives

📅 May 5 Register - "Supporting CTE Teachers"

📅 May 26 Register - "New CTE Administrator: Module 1: Data-Driven Decision Making"

📅 May 27 Register - "New CTE Administrator: Module 2 : Partnerships"

📅 June 2 Register - " New CTE Administrator: Module 3: Program Design"

📅 June 3 Register - " New CTE Administrator: Module 4: CTE Resources"

CTE Counselor Deep Dives

📅 July 21 Register - "New CTE Counselor: Module 1: CTE Programs - An Infrastructure for CCMR"

📅 July 22 Register - "New CTE Counselor: Module 2: Effective Advising for CTE - Ensuring Access for All Students"

July 13-16, 2026

CTAT Summer brings together CTE professionals from across the state for this must-attend event providing in-depth pre-conference workshops, 120+ breakout sessions and industry leading exhibitors with tools to enhance productivity and curriculum and opportunities to build connectivity with a network of like-minded educators. Fort Worth Convention Center | More information

Who Attends:

• Administrators | Counselors
• Education and Training Teachers | Architecture and Construction Teachers | Arts, A/V Technology and Communications Teachers | Business / Marketing / Finance Teachers | Information Technology Teachers | Manufacturing Teachers | STEM Teachers | Tech Ed / Tech Apps Teachers | Law and Public Service Teachers | Forensic Science Teachers

1. The Institute for Forensic Research, Training, and Innovation (IFRTI) at Sam Houston State University is excited to announce this year’s Forensic Science Educator Training coming July 2026. Please find the flyer attached and the registration page link here.

2. June 16-18, 2026 | San Marcos, Texas | Register

This isn't your typical conference.

This is crime scene investigation and law enforcement training at an actual body farm. This unparalleled opportunity combines forensic science with legal expertise, deepening your knowledge, connecting you with industry leaders, and equipping you with innovative practices to bring back to your classroom.

Chapter 231 Revisions Affecting Teacher Assignment Requirements

Due to recent revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 231 Requirements for Public School Personnel Assignments, certain certificates that were previously allowable for specific teaching assignments in Career and Technical Education, found in Subchapter E. Grades 9-12 Assignments, beginning with Division 8, no longer meet the requirements. We encourage districts to review current educator assignments to determine whether any staff may be impacted by these changes.

To identify the appropriate certificate(s) for each assignment, you can access the updated Chapter 231 rules here:

19 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 231. Requirements for Public School Personnel Assignments

Below is a list of specific CTE courses and the associated State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) certificates that are no longer appropriate for placement in the assignment.

231.331 Principles of Architecture; Principles of Construction, Grades 9-12.

• Any home economics or homemaking certificate
• Family and Consumer Sciences, Composite: Grades 6-12

231.335 Architectural Design, Grades 9-12.

• Any home economics or homemaking certificate
• Family and Consumer Sciences, Composite: Grades 6-12

231.353 Principles of Arts, Audio/Video Technology, and Communications, Grades 9-12.

• Any home economics or homemaking certificate
• Family and Consumer Sciences, Composite: Grades 6-12

231.355 Animation, Grades 9-12.

• Any business or office education certificate
• Business and Finance: Grades 6-12
• Business Education: Grades 6-12

231.381 Business Information Management; Business Law; and Touch System Data Entry, Grades 9-12.

• Health Science Education: Grades 6-12. This assignment requires appropriate work approval.
• Health Science Technology Education: Grades 8-12. This assignment requires appropriate work approval.

231.461 Principles of Applied Engineering, Grades 9-12.

• Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources: Grades 6-12
• Agricultural Science and Technology: Grades 6-12
• Any vocational agriculture certificate
• Health Science: Grades 6-12
• Health Science Technology Education: Grades 8-12
• Vocational Health Occupations
• Vocational Health Science Technology

For information related to certification requirements for course assignments, please contact the Educator Certification Division at 512-936-8400, option 2.

This assessment is more than just a requirement for the 2026-2027 grant cycle—it’s a great way to use your local data to drive meaningful program improvements.

The 2026–27 Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment (CLNA) officially opened on February 17, 2026, and will remain open through May 8, 2026. Completion and submission of the CLNA within eGrants is required before a school system can access the Perkins Grant Local Application, which will be available from June 12 through September 3, 2026.

To complete the CLNA, authorized users should log in to the Texas Education Agency Login (TEAL) system, access the eGrants application, and select the Special Collections tab. Under the Special Collections Description heading, users will find the 2026–2027 SC5600 Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment link. See the CLNA Guidebook (2026–27)

The 2025-2026 Perkins V reallocation amounts are now live in eGrants. You can check your specific numbers on the Grant Allocations and Award Balances page. You don't need to do a thing right now. TEA staff are automatically adding these funds to your largest budget category. Your updated budget (BS6001) will reflect both your final and reallocated amounts.

• Date & Time - Jun 24, 2026 01:30 PM in Central Time (US and Canada)
• Details: The purpose of this training is to walk through the steps to complete the 2026-2027 Perkins V: Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Grant Application.
• Registration Link

Thanks to House Bill 20, Texas is launching a brand-new way for juniors and seniors to jumpstart their careers. The Applied Sciences Pathway Program lets students earn their high school diploma and a high-value college certificate (Level I or II) at the same time—all while focusing on high-wage, high-growth industries. The application window for the 2026-2027 school year is officially open!

• Opens: January 15, 2026

• Closes: May 15, 2026

The 2024-2025 IBC Reimbursement Report has been uploaded into the TEA Login (TEAL) Accountability application. This disaggregated report identifies reimbursement amounts and codes at the student level. To access this report in the TEA Login (TEAL) application, click on the House Bill 3 Tab then select the Industry-Based Certification Reimbursement. For questions regarding CCMR OB criteria and questions about allowable and strategic uses of OB funding, please contact the College, Career, and Military Preparation Division at ccmp@tea.texas.gov. For questions regarding funding, please contact the State Funding Division at (512) 463-9238 or sfinance@tea.texas.gov.

IBC AUDIT DOCUMENTATION

Brief Description of the Amendment

The amendment proposes to remove the requirement that a high school student be 18 years of age or older. This change allows eligible students under 18 to qualify for Educational Aide I certification while still enrolled in high school, provided they meet program requirements.

• Proposed SBEC Rules (TEA webpage)
• Public Comment Submission Form (SBEC). Open until April 13, 2026

The CCMR Tracker (Part I) is now available in the TEA Login (TEAL) Accountability application. This tool enables districts to track completion of CCMR indicators throughout high school for students enrolled in grades 9–12 as reported in the 2025-2026 TSDS PEIMS Fall Submission. New for 2026, the CCMR Tracker also contains data for 2025 annual graduates and non-graduates – those students enrolled in grade 12 as reported in the 2024-2025 TSDS PEIMS Fall Submission. TAA: College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) Tracker Part I.

Part I of the CCMR Tracker will include the following data:

• CCMR indicators submitted via PEIMS through the 2024–25 school year
• OnRamps and TSIA results through the 2024–25 school year, and
• SAT, ACT, AP, IB, and level I/II certificate results through the 2023–24 school year.

While the CCMR Tracker includes students who were in grades 9–12 on the 2025–26 PEIMS Fall Snapshot, the 2026 Tracker does not include results for the 2025–26 school year, as those data have not yet been reported to TEA.

LEARN MORE:

• Interpreting CCMR Tracker methodology and Sources Part 1
• A video overview, of the new features and enhancements in the CCMR Tracker Part I will soon be available on the Accountability System webpage.

Part II of the CCMR Tracker will be released in the Summer of 2026 and will include SAT, ACT, AP, IB, and level I/II certificates updated through the 2024–25 school year.

CCMR will be evaluated in 2031 and 2032, with a particular focus on aligning indicators to meaningful post-secondary outcomes. Slide Deck and recording on the Performance Reporting Resources webpage.

Resources about the updated 2027 Academic Accountability System are now available on the 2027 Accountability System webpage. Following public comment, proposed updates were incorporated into the final A–F Accountability Rating System Manual.

Previously adopted changes that will take effect in 2027 include updated CCMR credit rules for college preparatory courses aligned with partnering higher education institutions and new requirements for Programs of Study and Industry-Based Certification alignment.

Two additional updates were made for 2027:

• Granted Closing the Gaps appeals may now update federal support intervention identifications.
• The deadline for campus number requests has moved from September 1 to May 31.

Additional edits were also made throughout the manual for clarity and consistent terminology. More learning opportunities about the updated framework will be shared soon.

Key Rules to Remember

These previously adopted rules are officially in effect for the 2027 cycle:

• College Prep Courses: CCMR credit will be awarded to 12th graders who complete courses aligned between their district and partnering higher education institutions.
• IBC & Programs of Study: To earn CCMR credit, students must earn an approved IBC (from either the 2022–25 or 2025–30 lists) and achieve CTE Completer status in a matching program of study.

What’s New?

Two updates were added for 2027:

• Appeals: A successful Closing the Gaps appeal can now update Comprehensive, Targeted, or Additional Targeted federal intervention identifications.
• Campus Number Deadline: The deadline to request a new campus number has moved from September 1 to May 31.

New Submission Guidelines for 2025–26 To align with recent TAA guidance, please note the split in IBC reporting windows:

• September 1 – May 31: Report these earned IBCs during the standard PEIMS summer submission.

• June 1 – August 31 (New): Starting with the 2025-26 school year, certifications earned in the summer must be reported via the PEIMS extended year submission.

Data Retention Reminder: As these are self-reported figures, districts are required to maintain all supporting documentation for at least five years.

Source: November 20, 2025 TAA

Texas State Technical College will be hosting a series of Career Discovery Camps in partnership with StartUp High, led by Scott Kelly. These camps are designed to give high school students hands-on exposure to career pathways through interactive activities, visits to local businesses, and career-focused exploration. Participation is at no cost to students.

Summer 2026 Camp Dates & Locations

Sweetwater Campus

• June 23–25, 2026 – Mini Medical Camp

• July 14–16, 2026 – Career Discovery Camp

The camps focus on early career awareness, workforce exposure, and helping students connect classroom learning to real-world opportunities. Scott Kelly will serve as the primary point of contact for schools regarding student participation, logistics, and program details, and he will follow up directly with interested partners.

The HMAC Scholarship Program is looking for driven, curious people ready to help build the future of Texas infrastructure. Whether you're a graduating senior or just looking for a fresh start, this is your launchpad. In just 10 days, we’ll get you trained, certified, and ready for a paycheck. Once you finish, we won’t just wish you luck—we’ll connect you directly with top employers in your area.

The Fast Facts

• What: A 10-day immersive course for Level 1A, Level 1B, and SB102 certifications.

• The Perks: A scholarship worth $6,650! This covers your training, certification costs, hotel stay, and food.

• Where: HMAC Training Center | Buda, TX.

• When: June 8–19, 2026.

See it in Action

Check out these quick videos (Video 1 | Video 2) or take a look at the Program Flyer for more details.

Ready to start? Reach out to Josh Whitehead at jwhitehead@texasasphalt.org to apply.

The Texas Higher Education Board has developed three new toolkits tailored for middle school educators, high school educators, and administrators across the State of Texas to support the implementation of My Texas Future across the state. Each toolkit is filled with ready-to-use activities that introduce students to the five stages of career exploration and make it easier for you to integrate My Texas Future into your classroom or campus programming. Access the toolkits below to get started with My Texas Future today!

Middle School Counselor Toolkit

High School Counselor Toolkit

Resource Guide for Educators and Administrators

Direct Admissions for Counselors and Advisors Toolkit