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Earning Postsecondary Credentials in High School

April 20, 2021
Today’s job market increasingly requires postsecondary education. Yet, only 28 percent of Texas 8th graders go on to complete a postsecondary degree or credential.1

To reach the state’s goals of 60 percent of Texans ages 25-34 having a certificate or degree by 2030,  students need multiple pathways to hands-on experience, industry-recognized credentials, and degrees in higher education to seamlessly transition into the competitive workforce. Increasing access to higher education while in high school through early college high school programs ensures more students benefit from affordable, high quality education with more seamless transitions into degree completion and meaningful careers.  

A current Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) student, Yesenia, shared her experiences in a P-TECH program and the opportunities that she gained while on her path to a postsecondary credential during high school.

Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H_rbV5KSFo.

A major impact of postsecondary education opportunities in high schools is creating affordable, career-aligned pathways for students.

Yesenia shared that her pathway to higher education would have been more difficult without the affordable option presented by her P-TECH program. She gained an associate’s degree in high school and will transition into a university. She also gained industry experience through internships and work-based learning opportunities.

P-TECH programs smooth transitions from high school through college and into the workforce and play an important role in meeting the state’s higher education and workforce goals.  P-TECH campuses are part of the Texas Education Agency’s College and Career Readiness School Models Network, which includes approximately 430 campuses across the state implementing one or more of three school models: Early College High School, P-TECH and T-STEM.
 
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Student voices in education are key to understanding how policies meet people. A major impact of postsecondary education opportunities in high schools is creating affordable, career-aligned pathways for students. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H_rbV5KSFo
 
 
1Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, 2020 Texas Public Higher Education Almanac, 2020
 

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