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Texas lawmakers have recognized in recent years the need to better prepare high school students for the workforce of tomorrow. Major reforms, such as the school finance overhaul in 2019 (House Bill 3) and the community college finance reform effort in 2023 (House Bill 8), have invested critical funding and resources to create new opportunities for students.
These legislative measures equip school districts and community colleges with the tools to provide students with access to industry-recognized credentials and dual-credit programs and to pave the way for their success after high school.
In 2023, over one-third of Texas high school graduates earned industry- based certifications or associate degrees, marking a significant improvement from just 21% in 2021. To reap the full benefit of this progress, we must extend these opportunities to every student.
While 97% of Texas high schools offer dual credit courses, only a small percentage of students are fully utilizing these opportunities, with only 3% of students graduating with an associate degree. This gap shows the need to make these programs more accessible and better aligned with the needs of students and schools.
The reforms in HB 8 laid the groundwork for improvement, but our focus now must be on fully integrating these programs into high schools across the state so that more students can graduate with meaningful, career-aligned credentials and college credit.
These credentials include industry-recognized certifications in fields such as health care, technology and skilled trades, as well as associate degrees that can transfer to four-year institutions. Every student deserves the chance to pursue these credentials, regardless of their future paths.
Access to these programs has been particularly challenging for students in rural areas. However, legislative initiatives are making a significant difference.
The Rural Pathways Excellence Partnership is an innovative model that pools resources from smaller districts so that rural students have access to the same kinds of career and technical programs available in larger districts. Expanding initiatives like R-PEP will go a long way to ensuring that all Texas students — regardless of their location — enjoy the benefits of a comprehensive career-aligned education.
To meet these challenges, we must look in the coming years at enhancing our ability to track outcomes, scaling successful programs, increasing incentives for institutions offering high-demand credentials, and ensuring that school and community leaders know how to take advantage of the state’s investments. We must take bold steps to ensure that by 2030, every Texas high school student can have the opportunity to graduate with a career-aligned credential.
Texas has already invested heavily in these educational pathways. The foundation is strong, but we must now prioritize expanding those opportunities so that every student graduates with the resources and skills to be successful in their future — whether they are entering the workforce or continuing their education.
High school must be seen as the starting point for a successful future and now is the time to make that a reality for every student in Texas.
Gabe Grantham and Grace Atkins are policy advisors at Texas 2036, a nonpartisan, nonprofit think tank.
