Recommended High School Programs of Study for College Preparation and Broad Career Concentrations. A Report Submitted to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Speaker of the House, and the Seventy-Fifth Texas Legislature.

A study explored the use of career concentration areas in Texas school systems and recommended broad career concentration areas. Of the 40 largest school districts, 35 responded to the survey. Approximately 58 percent currently use variations of the career concentration area concept to help students prepare for working life. Respondents recommended by a margin of more than 2-to-1 that the Public Education Information Management System be used to collect data related to career concentrations. The commissioner of education reviewed three alternatives for the legislature's consideration: (1) adopt the seven career concentration areas identified by the Texas Education Agency (TEA); (2) adopt the eight career concentration areas recommended by the State Occupational Information Coordinating Committee; and (3) adopt the four career concentration areas proposed in the Texas Workforce Commission's grant proposal for federal funds under the School-to-Work Opportunities Act. Adoption of the first alternative was recommended. School districts throughout the state adopted the following seven TEA career concentrations: agricultural science and natural resources; art, communications, and media technology; business and marketing; health science technology; human development, management, and services; industrial and engineering technology; and personal and protective services. Materials developed around them were widely disseminated and extensively used by Texas school districts. (YLB)