House Bill 5 Expands Postsecondary Pathways for Rural Texas Students

In 2013, Texas lawmakers took a large step toward expanding postsecondary access for the state's high schoolers with the passage House Bill 5 (HB5), which replaced traditional curriculums with new opportunities for students to customize their coursework to fit their career aspirations. Under HB5, Texas schools have implemented the Foundation High School Program (FHSP), replacing the traditional curriculum centered primarily on math, English, science, and social studies and offering expanded career and technical education (CTE) courses, dual enrollment opportunities, and industry-based credentials to increase access to postsecondary education. But rural school districts have had implementation challenges, as these areas often lack advanced coursework, have fewer resources for CTE courses, and have reduced opportunities for dual credit or industry-based credentials compared with urban school districts.