Students could see an uptick in their class offerings for the Katy ISD 2017-18 school year. The district proposed 18 new classes to its board of trustees at its Nov. 15 workshop meeting and ten of the classes are in the area of career and technical education.

CTE classes would include digital audio technology, computer programming for cybersecurity and manufacturing engineering. Personal financial literacy could be added in the spring 2017 semester. Non-CTE offerings would include several Advanced Placement—also known as AP—classes.

District officials said they are excited to see how these additions, especially the CTE offerings, might pair well with KISD potentially becoming a District of Innovation. The board voted Oct. 24 to officially pursue a DOI designation. If KISD becomes a DOI in the coming months, the designation would allow industry professionals to teach classes at the district.

“Through the District of Innovation, we can hire and develop our own requirements,” KISD Superintendent Lance Hindt said. “And the board can move forward with that hire so that we get somebody that’s been in that real work environment to teach those classes.”

Editor’s note: At the time of publication, the board had moved this item to its consent agenda and was expected to approve all 18 class additions at its Nov. 21 meeting.