The overview
P-Tech programs are designed for students to earn both a high school diploma, and an associate’s degree or work-based certification.
According to district documents, the NEISD SETA, DATA and STEM programs were approved by the Texas Education Agency to be included in the P-Tech programs. This approval allows the district to begin preparing for a dedicated planning year with TEA during the 2025-26 school year.
During the planning year, NEISD will work on integrating post-secondary coursework in the P-Tech pathways of architecture, engineering, design and technology. District officials said the P-Tech program will enhance the college-readiness courses already offered in NEISD and provide additional funding. The programs will also offer students a pathway to work-based certifications.
“These [programs] are very much aligned to the technology, engineering, early-college-high-school pathway,” a district official said. “It gives them that additional exposure that was already built into the fabric of what those magnets are."
NEISD Superintendent Sean Maika noted that these programs have heavy incentives from the state and will help bolster the district’s funds.
“[The state] wants [school districts] to do things like this, so they’re incentivizing it to get you to push into more of these types of programs,” NEISD Superintendent Sean Maika said.
The details
District officials said the transition has several steps.
Prior to the planning year, the district needed to establish a relationship between an institution of higher education and a business partner. Afterwards, NEISD sent an application to TEA.
Once the district has been accepted, district officials have 12-18 months to build the program alongside the IHE and the business partner. During that process, the district will recruit students and receive P-Tech designation.
This designation will be in a provisional state for up to four years. Additionally, the district will need to renew its designation. Then, once the district is fully awarded P-Tech status, the program will be required to meet a series of outcome based measurements to maintain their status.
According to district documents, NEISD has already signed a memorandum of understanding—which is a non-binding agreement—with Alamo Colleges for the facilitation of college credit for students in P-Tech designated courses.
