Education
BY SARAH BRAGER & EMILY LINCKE
Cy-Fair ISD sees increases in career, technical readiness programs
A closer look
About the program
Zooming out
Gov. Greg Abbott pushed for expansion of statewide CTE programs during the 89th legislative session and in February listed high school career training as an emergency item. While CFISD has not historically struggled with CTE funding due to high enrollment, the additional support is always benecial, Goree said. CFISD Chief Financial Ocer Karen Smith said funding increases associated with the two pieces of legislation were funneled through House Bill 2, which gave a funding boost to public schools across the board, including CTE programs. According to a December 2024 report from the Texas Workforce Commission, the two industries projected to have the most high-wage and high-demand jobs are professional, scientic and technical services, as well as health care and social assistance.
Goree said the health science program in partic- ular is experiencing notable growth and demand, both within CFISD and across Texas, citing high demand and wages in the health care industry statewide. Industry certications within this career cluster include: • Certied nurse aide • Emergency medicine technician, basic • Pharmacy technician • Registered dental assistant • Patient care technician On the other hand, Goree said, the district has seen a temporary decline in interest in hospitality related programs in association with lower wages. “Increased student interest in practical, career-focused education plays a key role, espe- cially as alternatives to traditional college paths gain value,” Goree said.
CFISD oers over 30 programs of study, including:
The Texas Legislature passed House Bills 20 and 120, which expand college and career readiness programs in public schools. The legislation also established that Junior ROTC courses are eligible for CTE funding. The estimated CTE funding increase from HB 2 for the district is $1.2 million for FY 2025-26, Smith said, which came from the boost to basic allotment funding. Smith said HB 2 included funding increases for reimbursement of two certication exams per student and to cover items like criminal background checks. Legislators set a statewide cap at $20 million, but per-district funding is unknown as of press time.
Animal science
Enrollment in career and technical education programs in Cy-Fair ISD has increased by almost 3,000 students in the last six years, according to annual district data. In the 2024- 25 school year, 40,000 students across the district were enrolled in CTE courses. Chief Academic Ocer Tonya Goree said this is in part because high school students are taking advantage of the chance to obtain industry recognized certications at a lower cost, which allow them to enter the work force right after graduation. For example, the average cost of a post- secondary cosmetology program ranges from $13,000 to $20,000, Goree said, but CFISD students can complete the training for free with exception of the nal exam cost.
Cy-Fair ISD enrollment in career, technical programs over time 50,000
Automotive technician
Business management
+7.31%
Cosmetology
40,000
Culinary
30,000
Environmental and natural resources
20,000
10,000
Health science
0
Robotics engineering and manufacturing
Welding
SOURCE: CYFAIR ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCE: CYFAIR ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT
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