1-1 By: Keffer (Senate Sponsor - Ellis) H.C.R. No. 117 1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 4, 1999; 1-3 May 5, 1999, read first time and referred to Committee on 1-4 Education; May 14, 1999, reported favorably by the following vote: 1-5 Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 14, 1999, sent to printer.) 1-6 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-7 WHEREAS, It is generally accepted that a four-year college 1-8 education guarantees a successful career, but experience has shown 1-9 that many students choose not to attend a four-year institution 1-10 directly out of high school; many students choose instead to attend 1-11 a technical school or pursue a two-year associate's degree from a 1-12 junior college; and 1-13 WHEREAS, Society is, for the most part, ignoring these 1-14 students and their academic needs for furthering their education to 1-15 develop marketable workplace skills, which are far different from 1-16 what the current secondary and baccalaureate education system 1-17 provides; and 1-18 WHEREAS, While the Texas Education Code allows for career and 1-19 technology education enrichment curricula to be offered, there are 1-20 far too many school districts that have opted not to make these 1-21 curricula available, either for financial reasons or due to the 1-22 perception that they are a student "dumping ground"; and 1-23 WHEREAS, If organized correctly by using area-specific data 1-24 from the Texas Workforce Commission, voluntary career and 1-25 technology academics will not become a student "dumping ground" but 1-26 rather a bonus to the high school diploma, and upon graduation, 1-27 students with parental guidance can focus on a college degree or 1-28 have the ability to further expand their career and technology 1-29 academics through a technical college, internship, or 1-30 apprenticeship; and 1-31 WHEREAS, In conjunction with a rigorous academic program, 1-32 voluntary career and technology education programs in Texas high 1-33 schools maximize students' productivity, provide leadership skills, 1-34 and better prepare graduates to take advantage of the many 1-35 employment opportunities that are being created in today's 1-36 demanding and increasingly technology-based marketplace; and 1-37 WHEREAS, Voluntary career and technology education programs 1-38 benefit not only graduates of these programs but also the technical 1-39 schools and community colleges that provide high-level, 1-40 job-specific, technical training and the businesses and industries 1-41 on the leading edge of the state's economic growth that are 1-42 increasingly reliant on a well-educated, highly skilled, and 1-43 technologically sophisticated workforce; now, therefore, be it 1-44 RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas 1-45 hereby support and encourage the future development and expansion 1-46 of voluntary career and technology academic programs throughout our 1-47 Texas high schools; and, be it further 1-48 RESOLVED, That the legislature encourage cooperative 1-49 partnership arrangements among Texas high schools, local community 1-50 colleges and universities, economic development councils, and 1-51 business leaders to accept the challenge for the productive future 1-52 and economic well-being of Texas. 1-53 * * * * *