TEXAS — Hands-on learning across Texas high schools gives teens an upper hand when they graduate.
- Career-prep programs popular in high schools
- Students get head start on careers
- TEA wants to cut programs' funding
Many Texas high school students have a head start in culinary arts, business, health sciences, and other programs, thanks in part to career and technical education programs that put them on track to join the workforce. However, the Texas Education Agency is considering eliminating funding for one popular program.
At Manor Senior High School’s cosmetology studio, passion and practice are closely intertwined. High school students on Thursday were practicing braiding hair. High school junior Zechariah Arriaga, 16, said cosmetology is like another art form.
“It helps me a lot with connecting with other people and this is what I pretty much see myself doing for the rest of my life,” said Arriaga.
Students learn different beauty services like hair styling, cutting, make up, manicures and pedicures, while working towards their cosmetology license.
“I do study more, I am more responsible,” Arriaga said.
However, this career and technical education program is caught in a tangle. TEA is in the process of reviewing programs statewide to reflect “high wage, high demand occupations in Texas,” according to a letter on the website. Some districts fear cosmetology will not make the cut. CTE directors said cosmetologists earn tips and sometimes work part time.
“They can open their own salon, they can own their own business,” said Jill Ranucci, CTE director for Manor Independent School District. “There’s so many layers that need to be really examined before a decision is made to, ‘Oh well, it’s not just high wage let’s just cut the funding.’”
Ranucci said students also gain more than just technical skills.
“It’s going to support their academics, because when you really look at cosmetology, it’s a science. When you look at color, the principle of color theory, you’re talking about chemistry,” Ranucci said. “This is going on along with not only the communication skills, people skills, service skills.”
Melissa Puentes graduated last year from Lehman High School in Kyle. She was a part of the CTE program for Hays Consolidated Independent School District.
For the past year, she has been working as a full-time stylist at Cross Cutters in Buda. When Puentes found out TEA was revising its CTE programs, she said she was shocked. If it were not for the cosmetology program, her family would have had to take out loans so she could go to cosmetology school.
“Not a lot of kids want to go to college, and I gave it a shot, but it wasn’t my thing. So, this gives me a chance to advance on my own, build me own clienteles and build friendships.” Puentes said. “It’s a really good place to be.”
In a statement TEA said: “TEA is working to determine if cosmetology courses meet the criteria for the new federal Perkins V definition of a ‘program of study.’ To meet this definition, a program must meet a federal criteria of being high wage, high demand and demonstrate multiple entry and exit points into postsecondary and the workforce. TEA’s determination regarding whether certain programs meet federal standards does not mean the program cannot be offered. The decision to remove a course rests with the State Board of Education, not the TEA.”