Education
BY AUBREY VOGEL CONTRIBUTIONS BY TOMER RONEN
Career and technical education is growing in Fort Bend ISD as the statewide need for non-degree jobs continues to soar. FBISD offers over 20 CTE courses, including a new biomedical science program beginning this year, CTE Director Renee Cosby said. The district is also piloting a drone program with the goal of expanding to all high schools for the 2026-27 school year. Additionally, the district is emphasizing career exploration at the middle school level including new middle school electives slated to begin in next school year. “By aligning our curriculum with industry demands, we are actively preparing students to meet the needs of the future workforce, effectively helping to bridge potential skills gaps,” Cosby said. FBISD expands CTE program
Why it matters
Career growth
2022 Number of jobs 2032 Number of jobs
A 2023 high growth report from the Texas Workforce Commission predicts 762,000 jobs will open by 2030 that both exceed the statewide annual median pay of $43,463. This includes 215 “high-wage occupations” within 13 different industries including construction, manufacturing and health care. Texas is expected to add 2.3 million new jobs by 2030, with only 39.3% expected to require some form of postsecondary education or training, the data shows. Professional, scientific and technical services are expected to include a significant portion of these jobs, followed by health care and construction. Additionally, a 2024 Report on Texas Growth Occupation from the Texas Workforce Commission shows Texas is expected to have one of the fastest growing labor forces in the nation at 14.7% by 2032, exceeded only by Utah.
2023 Annual median salary
Sheet metal worker
Pharmacy technician
Chef
Welder
Carpenter
30K
20K
10K
0
$48,111 $47,240 $47,964 $58,442 $51,607
SOURCE: 2024 REPORT ON TEXAS GROWTH OCCUPATION FROM THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION/COMMUNITY IMPACT
By the numbers
CTE programs
FBISD offers a number of different courses, some of which include:
CTE student enrollment
FBISD’s CTE program has remained steady over the past five years with an average annual partic- ipation rate of 23,000, or 28%, of its over 80,000 total enrolled students, Cosby said. “By aligning our programs of study with certifi- cations, we ensure that students acquire theoreti- cal knowledge, develop tangible, marketable skills, and earn credentials that enhance their college applications and employment prospects, preparing them for immediate success in their chosen career paths,” she said.
FBISD
Culinary
Automotive
30K
Cosmetology
Welding
23,334
23,188
20K
Law enforcement
Health science
10K
Carpentry
Agriculture
0
SOURCES: FORT BEND ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
2021-22
2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
SOURCE: FORT BEND ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Bill breakdown House Bill 20
Looking ahead
The same sentiment was echoed statewide with Gov. Greg Abbott pushing for the expansion of statewide CTE programs during the 89th Texas Legislative session earlier this year. Lawmakers passed two bills—House Bills 20 and 120—which aim to increase access and funding for career- related curriculum.
John C. Kennedy, associate provost for Texas State Technical College in Rosenberg, said he has noticed a recent shift in CTE offerings in local school districts. He attributes this growth to the skilled workforce “aging out” and the shift in mindset that skilled work can directly impact the economic growth of a community.
Filed by Rep. Gary Gates, R-Richmond Creates the Applied Sciences Pathway program which allows students to concurrently earn certificates from higher education institutions
House Bill 120 Filed by Keith Bell, R-Forney
Increases school district funding from $50 to $150 per students for the Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools for course credit
SOURCE: TEXAS LEGISLATURE ONLINE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
25
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