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Winter 2026

CTE & CCMR NEWS

A Publication of ESC Region 11 

A Note From Jacob and Stephanie

Welcome back to the second semester! We hope you had time over the break to rest, reconnect, and recharge. As you return to your campuses, we want you to know how much we value the relationships we have built with you and the trust you place in us. We see firsthand the care, creativity, and perseverance you bring to your work every day, and those efforts continue to make a meaningful difference for students and staff alike.

The start of a new semester is a chance to take what worked well in the fall, adjust where needed, and move forward with clarity and confidence. We know the work is not easy, but you do not do it alone. We are grateful to walk alongside you, support your goals, and celebrate the wins, big and small, along the way. Here’s to a strong start and a successful second half of the year, together!

Sincerely,

Jacob and Stephanie

January To-Do List:

• Review third grading cycle attendance reports
• Verify second-semester classes are balanced and coded correctly
• Continue the plan for 2026 graduates who are not yet CCMR Met
• Verify all data and check related TSDS Reports for PEIMS Fall Resubmission (deadline of January 15, 2026)
• Verify all WBL sites have been visited for the third six weeks of school
• Review your budgets to ensure spending is on track for the year
• Keep an eye out for Perkins Reallocation
• Finalize spring CTSO travel
• Plan for February CTE Month
• Update your College Prep courses with the provider-specific course codes for 2025-26 

Accountability Updates

In accordance with House Bill 8, beginning with 2026 accountability ratings (2025 graduates), the agency will provide districts with an opportunity to correct prior-year CCMR data before preliminary ratings are issued. Districts will utilize the PEIMS Working Submission, which will be required to receive acceptance from the Information Technology/Data Standards, Data Quality, and Business Analysis Division by the close of the 2026 CCMR Verifier Window. Additional guidance and information about this collection will be provided in a To the Administrator Addressed (TAA) correspondence, coming soon.

New Law and Public Service CTE TEKS Public Comment Period

At the November 2025 meeting, the State Board of Education (SBOE) approved for first reading and filing authorization proposed new Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for a set of courses in fire science and an occupational safety and compliance lab that can be paired with occupation-specific CTE courses. The SBOE is scheduled to consider the proposed new CTE TEKS for second reading and final adoption at the January 2026 meeting.

The courses included in the CTE TEKS proposal are: Occupational Safety and Compliance Lab, Foundations of Fire Protection, Crisis Care, Disaster Response, and Emergency Medical Technician-Basic.

The official public comment period for the proposed new CTE TEKS is from December 19, 2025, to January 20, 2026. The proposed new CTE TEKS will be posted on the Proposed State Board of Education Rules webpage with a link to submit comments when the official comment period opens on December 19, 2025.

Updated TEA CTE Programs of Study Frameworks  The updated Programs of Study Frameworks have been posted.  The following resources are intended to help school system staff make programmatic decisions:​ Programs of Study Change Crosswalk (Excel) - a list of every CTE course, with course code, abbreviation, credit, level, Career Cluster, Program of Study, and whether it is a state or regionally recognized Program of Study for 2025-26 CTE Course Catalog (PDF) - the update to the previous Course Catalog, complete with key information, and all CTE courses listed, their related information as above, plus pre- and co-requisites and descriptions of each course CTE Course Catalog Change Document (PDF) - a CTE-specific list of updates for 2025-26 PEIMS codes and descriptions, organized by career cluster

Final 2025-2030 Industry-Based Certification List  

The Final 2025-2030 Industry-Based Certification List for Public School Accountability has been released. 

The following resources are intended to help school system staff make programmatic decisions:​

• 2025-30 IBC List for Public School Accountability​
• IBC to Program of Study Crosswalk 2025-30​
• Comprehensive 2025 IBC Evaluation Results​
• IBC Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

To make things easier, the Program of Study and aligned IBC crosswalks lists have been combined here.

Monthly Office Hours with the TEA CTE Team

The TEA CTE Team is excited to announce the launch of monthly office hours for school administrators, counselors, and CTE teachers.

When: 2^nd Wednesday of each month - next one is January 14, 2026

Time: 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. CDT

Use this link to join the CTE Monthly Office Hours via Teams. Some participants have reported that the browser version of Teams did not function properly. In this situation, try to open the meeting in the Teams application. The office hours are designed to provide targeted assistance with questions related to CTE programming. Whether you are seeking clarification on a specific initiative, need support with implementation, or want to connect with the TEA CTE Team, this time is available to you. Each monthly session may include updates or insights on specific topics, but the primary focus is to support LEAs with their CTE programmatic questions.

The Preliminary 2028 A–F Accountability System Framework has been released on the Accountability System Development webpage, ahead of the 2027 –2028 accountability ratings year.

If you missed:

• Part 1: The Development of the Preliminary Framework
• Part 2: Proposed Changes to Domain 1 and Distinction Designations
• Part 3: Proposed Changes to Domain 3, Specific to Campus Ratings in Closing the Gaps
• Part 4: Proposed Changes to Domain 3, Specific to Results-Driven Accountability Integration

The slide decks and recordings can be found on the Accountability System Development page.

Assessment 2025 - 2026 Calendar

The Calendar of Events for the 2025–2026 school year, which includes test administration tasks and reporting events, is now available in the Calendar of Events section of the District and Campus Coordinator Resources. 

Student Opportunities

ESC Region 11 eSports Rocket League Tournament ESC Region 11 will be hosting our 3rd annual eSports Rocket League tournament on January 24. We would love to have your team compete at this year's event! We are working in conjunction with TexSEF again this year, and the winner of our tournament will receive an automatic entry to the TexSEF state competition.   The team registration link can be found on our website here:  https://www.esc11.net/esports

2026 Junior Achievement Inspire Career Day

Region 11 ESC is excited to participate in the 2026 JA Inspire Career Expo. Registration for the March 4, 2026, event kicked off in October, and interest is growing quickly as more partners and schools confirm their participation.

JA Inspire will include a dedicated Manufacturing & Engineering Zone this year through their new partnership with TMAC, bringing additional hands-on industry experiences to your students.

The partners will be bringing interactive activities, equipment, and real conversations that help students understand what different careers actually look like.

Event Overview

📍 Location: TTI, Inc. (Sager Electronics) – 4501 North Fwy, Fort Worth, TX 76106
📅 Career Expo: March 4, 2026 | 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.   
                      May shift into two sessions depending on total registrations
🎒 In-Class Program: February 23–27, 2026
🚌 Registration Deadline: February 13, 2026

Why Schools Participate:

• Students explore careers through hands-on, engaging activities
• Meaningful conversations with professionals from diverse industries
• Alignment to TEKS and career readiness goals
• A fully funded experience that broadens postsecondary awareness

Highlighted Organizations Who Have Registered:

• Autobahn
• Beck Architecture Group
• BNSF Railway
• BP Aero LLC
• Buzz Aldrin Foundation
• CareerSpring
• Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
• ESC Region 11
• Fidelity Investments
• Flex-N-Gate
• Fort Worth Sister Cities International
• General Motors
• In & Out Burger
• LJA Engineering
• Mouser Electronics
• RobotLAB DFW West
• Tarleton State University
• TechFW
• Texas Wesleyan University  
• Trinity Metro
• United Super Market
• University of Texas at Arlington
• Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County

Your students will have the chance to explore pathways in technology, engineering, business, health sciences, creative fields, and more—giving them a clearer picture of what their future can look like.

To reserve your spot, please use the Registration Link. If you would like to schedule time to meet with the JA team, please contact Aubrey Guzman at aguzman@jafortworth.org to explore more about this innovative experience.

2026 Women in Industry Conference

The Women in Industry Conference is designed to advance our shared mission to increase awareness among high school girls of high-demand, high-wage career pathways in Texas. The Women in Industry Conference introduces high school girls to high-skill, high-growth industries through:

• Career Awareness: Exploration of career fields such as electrical, instrumentation, process operations, welding, logistics, lab technology, manufacturing, and analyzer technology.
• Industry Leadership: Sessions led by women and leaders from companies like ExxonMobil and Worley, highlighting pathways to strong, sustainable wages.
• Interactive Engagement: Networking with industry professionals, Q&A sessions, and industry exhibits showing the training and credentials needed for these in-demand jobs.
• Inspiration: Real stories from women who have built successful careers in traditionally male-dominated fields.

Event Details: 

📍 Location: Moody Gardens Hotel & Convention Center,  1 Hope Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77554
📅 Date: Thursday, March 5, 2026
🎒 Cost: $25 per student ticket price includes breakfast and lunch

• Overnight accommodations: Available on-site at Moody Gardens
• For lodging options, please visit:  Click to Book Reservations

🚌 Registration:  Individual Tickets available through Eventbrite

• 2026 Women in Industry Conference ticket portal: Click to Register Individuals
• Group Registration or Purchase Orders: contact Brooke Kearby Saner to arrange
  • Districts bringing large groups are encouraged to share bus needs and chaperone ratios by February 5, 2026, to support planning

2026 Construction Career Day Construction Career Day is a construction career exploration event designed to provide 9th through 12th-grade students a chance to experience the construction industry through interactive learning labs and equipment demonstrations under supervision by professional construction companies. Attendees can also learn about education paths to a career in the industry. Thursday, March 26, 2026 Globe Life Field

High School STEM Scholarship Opportunity The SEMI Texas Chapter and the SEMI Foundation are offering a scholarship for Texas junior and senior high school students pursuing a STEM field of study in college. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2026. Previous years' award amounts were a minimum of $1,000.

HMAC Scholarship Program This program provides specialized training and prepares students to enter the workforce directly in the dynamic and growing asphalt industry. Applications are being accepted now through March 2, 2026. This scholarship includes: What: 10-Day TxDOT Level 1A, Level 1B, and SB102 Training & Certification Program Value: $6,650 (includes hotel, food reimbursement, and cost of training and certification courses) Where: At the Hot Mix Asphalt Center in Buda, TX When: June 8-19, 2026 How: Apply online at https://www.txhmac.org/history/scholarship/ This is a unique opportunity for students to gain hands-on training, earn industry-recognized TxDOT certifications, and enter a rewarding, well-paying field with the skills needed for asphalt production, testing, and construction. Additionally, we will connect recipients with employers with job openings across Texas, ensuring a smooth transition into the workforce as certified professionals. For more information, reach out to Josh Whitehead, HMAC Technical Director.

Professional Development and Related Opportunities

Military-Connected Student Support Summit The Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC), in collaboration with the Texas Education Agency (TEA), is excited to invite you to the first statewide Military Connected Student Support Summit. This one-day professional development summit has been designed to provide professionals with valuable insights, practical tools, and best practices to effectively support military-connected students. Date: January 29, 2026 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. CST Location: Education Service Center Region 20 (1314 Hines Avenue, San Antonio, Texas, Bexar Conference Room ) Registration Deadline: Complete registration by January 22, 2026 No registration cost to attend. Breakfast and lunch provided.

ExCITE II Program for High School Technology and Engineering Educators

The ExCITE II program is now recruiting high school technology & engineering educators for Cohort 3 (26-27 school year), and this is your opportunity to be part of a national initiative that’s transforming how students experience computer science and engineering design. We consider a target program to offer these types of concepts to the students: woodworking, 3d printing, CAD, CNC, drafting, robotics, engineering design process,  etc. We are not targeting computer science educators.

Through ExCITE II, you’ll receive comprehensive training to teach AP Computer Science Principles (CSP) byDesign, a course that blends computational thinking with hands-on, project-based learning. This isn’t just professional development, it’s a chance to elevate your teaching, expand your students’ opportunities, and join a vibrant community of educators committed to innovation in STEM education.

As a participant, you’ll receive a full class set of robotics and computer control kits (valued at $2,800) that will remain with your school district after the program. You’ll also earn a $2,000 stipend, with half paid at the start of the school year and the remainder upon completion of your project research notes. All travel, lodging, and meal expenses for in-person events are fully reimbursed, so you can focus on learning and collaboration without financial stress. In addition, you’ll become a certified College Board AP CSP teacher, receive a free one-year ITEEA membership, and qualify for 90 hours of continuing education credit, a powerful boost to your professional credentials.

 If you're ready to bring hands-on, design-based computer science education to your students and grow as a leader in your field, we encourage you to apply today. Learn more and apply here.

For questions, reach out to Mark Harrell, STEM CTL Director with ITEEA.

Executive Leadership Compass ESC Region 11 is excited to introduce a new leadership series specifically designed for school system district executive leaders—Executive Leadership Compass. These sessions are crafted to support strategic growth and organizational effectiveness through purposeful leadership development. Each session will focus on high-impact topics such as aligning vision with culture, leveraging data for innovation, and sustaining leadership momentum.   Executive Leadership Compass 2025–2026 Schedule: February 18, 2026 – Developing Leaders, Empowering Systems May 28, 2026 – Sustaining Momentum Through Data-Informed Innovation (Virtual only)

2025-2026 CTE & CCMR Leader Meetings

• January 15, 2026 • 9 a.m.
• February 19, 2026 • 9 a.m.
• March 26, 2026 • 9 a.m.
• April 16, 2026 • 9 a.m.
• May 21, 2026 • 9 a.m.

CTE & CCMR Leader Meeting - Virtual Recap

• January 22, 2026 • 9 a.m.
• February 26, 2026 • 9 a.m.
• April 2, 2026 • 9 a.m.
• April 23, 2026 • 9 a.m.
• May 28, 2026 • 9 a.m.

CTE Administrator Trainings

This professional development series is designed to strengthen the leadership capacity of CTE administrators through both fundamental and deep dive sessions. The trainings will focus on key areas of program success, including data-driven decision making, building effective partnerships, program design and expansion, supporting CTE teachers, leveraging resources, and evaluating program impact.

Held throughout the year in Irving ISD and Lewisville ISD, these sessions will provide administrators with the knowledge and practical strategies needed to lead comprehensive, high-quality K–12 CTE programs.

• Feb. 24, 2026 • CTE Administrator Fundamental Training: Program Design
• Feb. 24, 2026 • CTE Administrator Deep Dive Training: Program Expansion
• Mar. 31, 2026 • CTE Administrator Fundamental Training: CTE Resources
• Mar. 31, 2026 • CTE Administrator Deep Dive Training: Program Evaluation

ESC Region 11 Resources

Jacob Hildebrand, M.Ed. Administrator Coach for CCMR & CTE Email: jhildebrand@esc11.net Location: 1451 South Cherry Lane, White Settlement, TX 76108 Phone: 817-740-3691