When this year’s sophomore entered Sunray High School last year, they had new graduation requirements in place, a plan call the 4 x 4 graduation plan.  Those students will have the added requirement of four years of math and four years of science along with the four years of social studies and English that are already in place.  With these new requirements many students are finding it difficult to take elective classes, many of which are career and technology classes. 

Yes, those students who will be attending college when they graduate from Sunray High School need the four years of science, math, English, and social studies courses. However, not all of our students will attend college. Some will attend vocational schools.  Some will leave high school and go directly to the workplace.  For those students, the skills they can get through vocational education programs at the high school level are invaluable. 

Also these new graduation requirements are hurting the high school career and

technology programs.  Students are not able to take many of these elective courses, and with the smaller numbers, some of the CTE courses and programs may have to be cut in many Texas schools. 

There was an interesting article that was sent to administrators from Region 16.  Please take a moment to read this article. It sure does make a strong case for CTE.

http://www.amarillo.com/stories/120508/new_11745896.shtml