Workforce Education Overview
Strengthening Texas Through Education and Workforce Alignment
Texas’ economic strength depends on a strong connection between education and the workforce. The Workforce Education (WE) division advances this connection by supporting career and technical education, expanding pathways to high-value credentials, and aligning strategic investments with the evolving needs of Texas students, communities, employers, and the state’s economy.
The Workforce Education division advances coordinated, strategic investment in career and technical education programs across Texas. Through state and federal grant programs, including the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education program, Texas Reskilling and Upskilling through Education (TRUE), and the Texas Industry-Recognized Credential (TIME) initiative, WE provides funding and support to help institutions strengthen CTE programs and expand opportunities for Texans to gain skills aligned with high-demand careers.
WE leads the implementation of emerging federal programs and initiatives that connect higher education with workforce outcomes, including Workforce Pell. By translating federal requirements into statewide processes and supporting institutions through implementation, we help Texas take advantage of new opportunities to expand access to workforce-aligned education and training.
Together, these efforts advance the goals of Building a Talent Strong Texas by supporting a skilled and adaptable workforce and ensure that Texas higher education remains responsive to the needs of students, employers, and communities across the state.
Resources
Career & Technical Education
Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education (CTE) Act grant funds are administered for the purpose of improving career and technical education in Texas.
TRUE Grant
The goal of the Texas Reskilling and Upskilling through Education (TRUE) Grant Program is to support public higher education institutions to create, redesign and expand short-term workforce education and training programs in high-demand occupations.
TXWORKS
Texas Working Off-Campus: Reinforcing Knowledge and Skills (WORKS) Internship Program (TXWORKS) is a statewide paid internship program developed exclusively for Texas undergraduate students and employers. Employers that hire eligible students through TXWORKS will be reimbursed a portion of the hourly wages for each intern at the completion of the internship period.
Other Resources
The Apprenticeship Crosswalks are designed to help Texas community colleges, employers, and training organizations work together to ensure college credit for individuals who have completed a registered apprenticeship program. Colleges may use these crosswalks and work within their own college guidelines to provide credit for prior learning to those journeymen who have completed a registered apprenticeship.
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) is committed to aligning pathways to promote efficient time to degree through transfer initiatives aimed at reducing excess semester credits and maximizing credits earned toward student’s degrees and certificates at institutions of higher education.
Review information pertaining to strategic alignment between workforce needs and education.
Private Postsecondary Resources
The Coordinating Board authorizes accredited degree-granting private postsecondary institutions under a Certificate of Authorization and provides oversight of degree-granting private postsecondary institutions under a Certificate of Authority while they seek recognized accreditation.
Workforce Education Course Manual (WECM)
WECM provides community and technical colleges with web-based inventory of pre-approved courses developed in close partnership with Instructional Specialists representing a wide variety of technical fields.
Programs of Study work to align college and career readiness standards and career and technical education standards with the knowledge, skills, and abilities students are expected to demonstrate.
Contact
Inquiries regarding how we equip our workforce should be sent to Academic Affairs.