By Keffer, Christian, Zbranek, Seaman, Coleman,      H.C.R. No. 117
         et al. 
         76R8389 JLZ-F                           
                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-1           WHEREAS, It is generally accepted that a four-year college
 1-2     education guarantees a successful career, but experience has shown
 1-3     that many students choose not to attend a four-year institution
 1-4     directly out of high school; many students choose instead to attend
 1-5     a technical school or pursue a two-year associate's degree from a
 1-6     junior college; and
 1-7           WHEREAS, Society is, for the most part, ignoring these
 1-8     students and their academic needs for furthering their education to
 1-9     develop marketable workplace skills, which are far different from
1-10     what the current secondary and baccalaureate education system
1-11     provides; and
1-12           WHEREAS, While the Texas Education Code allows for career and
1-13     technology education enrichment curricula to be offered, there are
1-14     far too many school districts that have opted not to make these
1-15     curricula available, either for financial reasons or due to the
1-16     perception that they are a student "dumping ground"; and
1-17           WHEREAS, If organized correctly by using area-specific data
1-18     from the Texas Workforce Commission, voluntary career and
1-19     technology academics will not become a student "dumping ground" but
1-20     rather a bonus to the high school diploma, and upon graduation,
1-21     students with parental guidance can focus on a college degree or
1-22     have the ability to further expand their career and technology
1-23     academics through a technical college, internship, or
1-24     apprenticeship; and
 2-1           WHEREAS, In conjunction with a rigorous academic program,
 2-2     voluntary career and technology education programs in Texas high
 2-3     schools maximize students' productivity, provide leadership skills,
 2-4     and better prepare graduates to take advantage of the many
 2-5     employment opportunities that are being created in today's
 2-6     demanding and increasingly technology-based marketplace; and
 2-7           WHEREAS, Voluntary career and technology education programs
 2-8     benefit not only graduates of these programs but also the technical
 2-9     schools and community colleges that provide high-level,
2-10     job-specific, technical training and the businesses and industries
2-11     on the leading edge of the state's economic growth that are
2-12     increasingly reliant on a well-educated, highly skilled, and
2-13     technologically sophisticated workforce; now, therefore, be it
2-14           RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas
2-15     hereby support and encourage the future development and expansion
2-16     of voluntary career and technology academic programs throughout our
2-17     Texas high schools; and, be it further
2-18           RESOLVED, That the legislature encourage cooperative
2-19     partnership arrangements among Texas high schools, local community
2-20     colleges and universities, economic development councils, and
2-21     business leaders to accept the challenge for the productive future
2-22     and economic well-being of Texas.