The Texas OnCourse Educator Blog

Helping Texas middle school students prepare to choose an endorsement selection before they enter high school is just one step in career exploration.

As part of the Foundation Graduation Plan, Texas middle schoolers are required to declare an endorsement that will influence their path of study in high school. Because this can be a confusing topic for students and families, we’re here with up-to-date information on everything you need to know about the five endorsements in Texas.

Endorsements have been around for a few years now, but they can still be a challenging concept to explain to students and their families. Fortunately, there are lots of resources on endorsements and academic planning to help you!

Use this handy document to review the course requirements for each of the five endorsements on the Foundation High School Program. 

What are endorsements? 

For parents and guardians, hearing that their eighth grader will have to select an endorsement can be confusing. After all, when today’s adults were in school, such a thing didn’t exist!

How well do you think your middle school students understand endorsements and graduation plans?

My first experience in talking to middle school students about endorsements was more complex than I had anticipated. I may have assumed way too much about their prior knowledge, so it didn’t take long before I had blank faces staring back at me.

Okay, middle school parents and guardians. It’s never too soon to help your child dream about college and career success after high school. Starting around seventh and eighth grade, you’ll  need to know about Texas graduation requirements and help your child craft a four-year high school plan. Don’t panic – you’ll have help. That’s what counselors and advisers are here for! 

As college and career readiness educators, you may have a good feel for what endorsements your local students are choosing, but have you ever wondered how that might compare to statewide academic trends?

In education, time is a commodity. Educators need time to teach, plan, and connect and engage with students. Our time impacts lives; therefore, it must be managed well. Time invested in the Texas OnCourse Academy is truly an investment worth making, because the strategies and resources presented allow educators to save LOTS of time later.