ESC Region 14 CTE Newsletter

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Hello to our CTE Friends!

As always, it has been a busy summer at Region 14. We welcomed LaLena Carpenter to the CTE team. LaLena has 30 years of experience in education, with a career that has taken her to the Eula, Clyde, and Midland school districts. During that time, she served as a teacher/coach, a counselor, and a district CTE administrator. In 2025, LaLena retired and began working with the Abilene TRIO program. When the opportunity to return to CTE with Region 14 ESC presented itself she jumped at the chance and now looks forward to supporting our Region 14 districts. One of LaLena’s favorite things in life is spending time with her husband, Dwain, two sons and daughter-in-laws, and seven grandchildren. LaLena believes in building relationships, maintaining a strong work ethic, and being kind. She recognizes that education is ever-changing and is inspired by the following quote: “It is okay to be at a place of struggle. Struggle is just another word for growth.” —Idowu Koyenikan. We are so fortunate to have her and her expertise!

Whether you're stepping into the classroom, the lab, or the shop floor, there’s an undeniable energy that comes with a fresh start. As we gear up for the months ahead, this newsletter is designed to be your go-to hub for staying connected. Our goal is to keep you informed about professional development, key deadlines, share best practices, and provide compliance guidance. We hope you find this information valuable as you continue your important work this year. As always, we're here to support you, so feel free to reach out with any questions or topics you'd like to see in future newsletters.

Please secure your CTE SSA Visits and CTE Program Evaluations by signing up at these links. Sign-ups are also available on our website.

Teachers will come to learn about work-based learning requirements and how to implement a training plan for students who will be participating in an internship opportunity. Time will also be spent learning how to input information into a work-based learning data program to track progress of student internships.

🔵Tuesday Aug 25, 2026 ⋅ 9am – 4pm

Designed for new CTE teachers (0–5 years), this cohort covers instructional strategies, classroom management, TEA CTE updates, and building a successful CTE program. Participants will receive practical resources and network with fellow educators.

🔵Day 1: Tuesday, September 22, 2026 | 9:00-12:00 pm

🔵Day 2: Tuesday, November 3, 2026⋅9:00am – 12:00pm

🔵Day 3: TBD

🔵Day 4: TBD

CTE leadership meetings focused on TEA updates, networking, program improvement, accountability, funding, industry-based certifications, partnerships, teacher support, and work-based learning. Industry tours for administrators may be included.🔵Day 1: Thursday, September 24⋅9:00am – 4:00pm

🔵Day 2: Tuesday, November 17, 2026⋅9:00am – 3:00pm

🔵Day 3: TBD

🔵Day 4: TBD

Experienced CTE Administrator Modules

🔵Module 1 - Planning for a Comprehensive K-12 CCR Program

Thursday, October 22⋅9:00am – 12:00pm

🔵Module 2 - Planning for a Comprehensive K-12 CCR Program CTE Program Evaluatiom

Thursday, October 22⋅1:00 – 4:00pm

🔵Module 3 - Program Expansion

Thursday, December 3, 2026⋅9:00am – 12:00pm

🔵Module 4 - Supporting CTE Teachers

Thursday, December 3, 2026⋅1:00 – 4:00pm

Experienced CTE Counselors

🔵 Module 1: Informed and Ongoing CTE Advising for MS and HS

Designed for middle and high school counselors, this workshop provides strategies and resources to support effective CTE advising, career planning, and postsecondary readiness.

Tuesday, October 20⋅9:00am – 12:00pm

🔵Module 2: Informed and Ongoing CTE Advising for MS and HS

Provides middle and high school counselors with strategies to implement an Effective Advising Framework that supports students' academic, career, and postsecondary planning through high-quality advising practices, assessments, and partnerships. Tuesday, October 20⋅1:00 – 4:00pm

🔵Monthly on the second Wednesday

MS Teams Link

The proposed 2026–2027 Student Attendance Accounting Handbook (SAAH) is now available on the TEA website. The public comment period is July 10–August 10, 2026.

• Review the proposed SAAH on the TEA website.
• Submit public comments by August 10, 2026.

The 2024–2025 CTE District Alignment Reports are now available in TEAL through the Career and Technical Education Reports (CTER) application. The reports provide actionable insights to support local program planning and implementation. Each report includes programs of study reported as offered through the PEIMS Fall submission, counts of CTE concentrators and completers (grades 9–12), alignment of IBCs by Tier 1, 2, and 3, and CTE course details such as offering three or more courses for four or more credits, including Level 3 or 4 courses. The report provides data to strengthen program alignment and improve CCMR outcomes for 2028 accountability and beyond.

The issue affecting PDM3-404-002 (CTE Student Roster) and PDM3-404-003 (Student Counts by CTE Indicator Code and Grade) has been resolved. Rerun these reports to view updated results. Explorer students are now included with Participants, and eligible transfer students retain their Concentrator or Completer status.

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 CTE no longer meet the requirements. We encourage districts to review current educator assignments to determine whether these changes may impact any staff. 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, For information related to certification requirements for course assignments, please contact the Educator Certification Division at 512-936-8400, option 2.

• Region 13 has developed resources to help districts navigate the CTE teacher certification process. The Starting the Certification Process for CTE Teachers flyer outlines the first steps, and the blog How to Become a Certified CTE Teacher in Texas provides a step-by-step guide for prospective CTE teachers. Both resources can be shared with hiring teams and certification candidates.

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. Your updated budget (BS6001) will reflect both your final and reallocated amounts.

2026-2027 Perkins Program Guidelines

2026-2027 Perkins V: Strengthening Career & Technical Education for the 21st Century Grant Available - The consolidated grant application process for the federal grant programs listed below is now available in eGrants.

NOTE: If you are a member of a Perkins SSA you DO NOT complete the application. Only the SSA Fiscal Agent completes the application.

• 2026-2027 Perkins V: Strengthening Career & Technical Education for the 21st Century

Planning amounts for Perkins V: Strengthening Career & Technical Education for the 21st Century eligible applicants are available and can be viewed on the Grant Allocations and Award Balances webpage.

Visit the TEA Grant Opportunities page for detailed information about the grant program. Search by the grant application name. Additional information on how to apply for a grant is available on the Applying for a Grant page.

SC5003 — Formula Grants Consolidated Schedule

Eligible applicants must first complete the SC5003 — Formula Grants Consolidated Schedule. To complete the SC5003, log into TEA Login (TEAL) and select eGrants as the application, then click on Special Collections on the menu bar. The SC5003 must be certified and submitted by a grantee official.

Applicant Designation and Certification (ADC) Form

Once the SC5003 schedule is submitted, the ADC form will become available. The ADC form must be certified and submitted by a grantee official for the grant application to become available in eGrants. To access the ADC, log into log into TEAL and select eGrants as the application. Once in eGrants, click Grants on the menu bar, then select Apply for Eligible Grants.

Application Due Date

Eligible applicants must apply through the eGrants system by 11:59 p.m. Central Time, September 3, 2026.

The TeachTX Grant application is now open. The grant supports districts in strengthening the educator pipeline through recruitment, leadership development, teacher pathway programs, and Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) opportunities.. The application can be accessed from TEA Grants Opportunities.

The Texas Hotel & Lodging Association (THLA) has released a new Hospitality Careers video highlighting career opportunities in the Hospitality & Tourism Career Cluster. Free resources include a lesson plan, TEKS alignment, student worksheet, and information on the Future Hotel & Tourism Professionals CTSO.

• THLA – We’ll See you in Hospitality Video

• Sample Lesson Plan | TEKS Alignment | Student Worksheet

For more information on the Texas Hotel & Lodging Association's FREE education resources, contact Debbie Wieland, Education, Outreach & Foundation Director, dwieland@texaslodging.com

Districts should ensure that the following data sets are available in case of an audit.

• Copies of Official Certifications
• Screenshots of the students listed in the certifying entity's offical registry with their unique registration number.
• Copies of the official IBC testing results.
• Invoices for the IBC exams, including the number purchased and total cost

The requirement that a high school student be 18 years of age or older when testing has been removed. 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.

Under TEC, §28.014, each school district must collaborate with at least one institution of higher education to create and offer college preparatory courses in Mathematics and English language arts.

College Preparatory Courses for CCMR Accountability list version 1.1 - Districts and campuses are encouraged to review the version 1.1 list to:

• Confirm approved college preparatory course providers
• Ensure accurate planning for student enrollment and reporting
• Districts may continue partnerships with non-approved providers; however, those courses will not count toward CCMR accountability. We encourage all stakeholders to review the updated version 1.1 list and make any necessary adjustments to support student success.

• Only courses completed in grade 12 are eligible for CCMR credit under the approved list.
• 🚩There is no approved College Prep Course for math this year. Students can take a college prep math course for course credit towards graduation requirements. However, this alone will not count for the CCMR math requirement. Students must also pass the TSIA, SAT, or ACT math assessment if this is the route that they are using to earn CCMR.
• College Bridge is now approved as an ELAR College Prep Course.

More Information Here.

The CCMR Tracker Part II released on July 23 in TEAL. The CCMR Tracker Part II will include SAT, ACT, AP, IB, and Level I/II certificate results updated through the 2024–25 school year. This release complements CCMR Tracker Part I, which includes PEIMS-submitted CCMR indicators, TSIA results, and OnRamps data through the 2024–25 school year.

Students who will be included in 2026 accountability ratings, 2025 annual graduates and non-graduates, will not be included in the CCMR Tracker, Part II. Data updates for 2025 graduates and non-graduates for SAT, ACT, AP, IB, and Level I/II Certificates were already communicated through the CCMR Verifier Listing on June 4, 2026. The Final CCMR Listing for 2025 annual graduates and non-graduates will be available in early August and will include data updated through the CCMR Verifier and eligible PEIMS Working Submissions.

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.

Accountability Data Sources

To The Administrator Addressed, June 4

May - Accountability Smore

June - Accountability Smore

July - Accountability Smore 📍Action needed soon on some items

🎄🧑🏻‍🎄🎁Every year ESC Reigon 14 hosts a Christmas sale of items made by our regional CTE students. The CTE programs from our region are invited to come and bring the things that they have made and sell them. In the past we have had welding art, food, hairstylists, Christmas decor, etc. Anyone is invited to shop this event.

If you would like your CTE students to participate in this event, please contact Tammi Davis at 325-675-8672 or tdavis@esc14.net.

The Rural Pathway Excellence Partnership (R-PEP) helps rural districts expand access to high-quality college and career pathways through regional partnerships while providing additional funding and outcomes bonuses. ESC 14 R-PEPs | TEA R-PEP

ESC Region 14 R-PEPs

• Comanche Country Rural Collaborative (est. 2024) - Gustine, De Leon
• Double Mountain Rural Collaborative (est. 2026) - Aspermont, Rule, Roby, Jayton-Girard, Hamlin, Rotan
• West Districts Rural Collaborative (Planning Year 2026) - Colorado City, Loraine, Roscoe, Ira, Westbrook, Hermleigh

My Texas Future - Free Career and College Preparation

TEA Addditional CTE Resources

Work-based Learning Tools