everY texAs student
prepAred for College And CAreer suCCess.
The programs of study (available at www. Q: how is AchieveTexas different during the senior year, all students will be
AchieveTexas.org) developed by the state from Tech Prep? better prepared for postsecondary education
show students the recommended courses and career preparation.
to take, plus the appropriate postsecondary Answer: Students participating in The Excel spreadsheets available at
programs of study, extended learning Tech Prep programs are already involved www.AchieveTexas.org were developed to
options, and extracurricular opportunities. with career planning and can earn help counselors and students create TAPs
To make creating the TAP easier, college credit through dual credit and which incorporate the 4x4 requirement.
Excel files are available for counselors articulation agreements with local The spreadsheets identify the required
to download (check www.AchieveTexas. community colleges. These students can 4x4 courses for grades 9 to 12 based on the
org). The programs of study provide the make a seamless transition to college and student’s chosen cluster, program of study,
recommended courses in response to career because their high school courses and postsecondary goals.
the student’s choices, and can be locally are aligned with postsecondary courses
customized. Counselors, however, are not and majors. Q: how will AchieveTexas
required to use this version. You can Texas students will have access to the affect elementary and middle
choose to update your current graduation career exploration resources and rigorous, school counselors?
plan document, or create your own relevant academic and career and technical
version of the TAP. preparation needed to build a successful life Answer: AchieveTexas spans all grades
after high school. from elementary through postsecondary.
Q: does AchieveTexas replace At the elementary level, counselors
Tech Prep in Texas? Q: does AchieveTexas comply will work with teachers and parents to
with the state’s new 4x4 provide age-appropriate Career Awareness
Answer: No. AchieveTexas and Tech Prep graduation requirements? activities. At the middle school level,
are separate initiatives. The introduction teachers are asked to build age-appropriate
of AchieveTexas is not going to eliminate, Answer: Yes. In fact, the AchieveTexas Career Exploration components into
replace, or negatively affect the Tech TAP is a tool that will help ensure that classes that introduce the concept of career
Prep program. In fact, implementing students complete the 4x4 requirement, clusters—for example, inviting a parent
AchieveTexas should be easier for schools which becomes effective with students who who is an accountant to talk to the class
that have Tech Prep programs, because enter grade nine in the fall of 2007. about his or her job as part of a discussion
career planning, articulation agreements, The goal of AchieveTexas is to prepare about the Business, Management &
extended learning opportunities, and students for college and career and allow them Administration cluster.
career and technical student organizations to choose the options that are best for them. By building career awareness in
(CTSOs) are already in place. By taking four academic courses—English, kindergarten through grade eight, we will
math, science, and social studies—each year, better prepare students to complete their
including a rigorous math and science course first TAP in eighth grade.
Page 13
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20