The Texas OnCourse Educator Blog

Strong partnerships between schools, higher education institutions, and community organizations help students advance in their next steps. Not only that, but they also encourage collaboration and learning from industry leaders and other educators. Districts, educators, and students deserve to thrive! Keep reading to learn about the partnerships and strategies you can implement in your schools and districts.

Watch the webinar recording below and download the slides.

Introducing students to pathways they can pursue after high school is no easy task, and we applaud your hard work! We’re here to make college planning even smoother for your high school students. Texas OnCourse has partnered with the Texas Education Agency and College Forward to bring you the College and Career Support guide from Texas College Bridge. This resource comes with five helpful, student-facing modules where students can learn about their interests and passions, different postsecondary paths, how to apply for college, financial aid, and so much more!  

Watch the webinar recording below and download the slides or continue reading for resources and highlights.   

There are lots of resources out there to support students with disabilities. In this webinar, we help you sort through some of the most helpful ones. These resources are meant to help ease postsecondary planning and career exploration and include a module in the Texas OnCourse Academy that’s filled with awesome information on how to best advise this student population. 

Starting in October 2022, the process will be simplified. Students will be able to fill out and submit their application completely electronically, and counselors can easily check completion.   

Some college-bound seniors may be eligible for more financial aid than they were awarded this spring but will need to take steps to correct their information. Your students deserve to receive the full reward amount they’re eligible for. We know they’re going through the financial aid process for the first time and aren’t likely to know how to navigate this challenge.  Don’t worry though, we’ve got the right information to share with your students and their families before school’s out for the summer.

View this webinar for an overview of the 2021 Texas education bills passed during the Regular Legislative Session. The webinar also includes a lively discussion full of questions and best practices from your colleagues across the state. To hear what they had to say, be sure to tune into the recording.

One of the biggest hurdles middle school students face before entering ninth grade is planning their courses for high school. Once a student enters high school, they have the opportunity to revisit their course plans, explore work-based learning options, and take courses for college credit.

To graduate high school, Texas students are required to complete 22 credits as part of the Foundation High School Program. Students can customize their high school experience by completing additional requirements and graduating with an endorsement, the Distinguished Level of Achievement, and performance acknowledgments. It’s really important that students understand their options based on their future goals. For example, the Distinguished Level of Achievement is mandatory for students to be eligible for Texas’ Top Ten Percent program.

Texas students face a competitive and ever-evolving job market. Understanding their course options and putting together a strong graduation plan helps ensure that students will graduate from high school with the resources and knowledge they need to succeed in college or their chosen career. 

This article outlines the basics of academic planning for educators. For more in-depth information, including resources, handouts, and tips for implementing this information in the classroom, check out the Academic Planning badge in the Texas OnCourse Academy.

The process of selecting a best-fit career assessment can be overwhelming for an educator. There are so many to choose from! Read on to find out how to choose the best assessment for your students. For more info on career assessments, be sure to visit the Texas OnCourse Academy.

A career paths quiz, or career assessment, is a tool designed to help individuals understand how personal attributes impact their potential success and satisfaction with different career options and work environments. Assessments are used to help individuals make more informed career decisions. They are often used by individuals and organizations such as universities, career counselors, outplacement companies, corporate human resources, executive coaches, and vocational rehabilitation counselors.

In today's economy, students have to show strong skills to enter the workforce. This is especially true in the United States, where industries are growing faster but creating far fewer jobs. Students need to be ready for the increasingly competitive job market.