CCISD officials provided a progress update on the program at the board of trustees Jan. 13 workshop after applying to the Texas Education Agency to open the program in the fall in November.
The overview
P-TECH will offer the following features for students:
- Industry-based certifications
- Work-based learning with Hospital Corporation of America, or HCA, Houston Healthcare beginning in ninth grade
- Career technical education, or CTE, courses, including health science, medical terminology and anatomy and physiology, among other courses
- CTE pathway completion
With the addition of P-TECH, as well as what the school already offers, students can earn and participate in the following:
- Up to 60 hours of college credit
- High school advanced placement classes
- High school honors classes
- Fully-immersed on college campus
- Small school environment
- Academic and social emotional supports
How we got here
In fall 2023, CCISD and San Jacinto College held exploratory meetings to discuss the P-TECH program, and visited P-TECH programs across the state.
By April 2024, a P-TECH steering committee was established, and divided into subcommittees. These committees were made up of officials from CCISD, San Jacinto College and HCA Houston Healthcare, a presentation from the district noted.
By November, a TEA application was submitted to open the program in fall 2025.
Next steps
CCISD will adhere to the following timeline for the P-TECH program:
- Jan. 7: Applications open, students can choose to participate in P-TECH, ECHS or both
- Feb. 12: Lottery rank sent to families
- August 2025: Class of 2029 begins classes, new cohort will now begin each fall
Tidwell also noted over 50 students have expressed interest in joining the P-TECH program through the lottery application.
