Applied Sciences Pathway Program

taa-2026-01-16-applied-sciences-pathway-program.pdf219.16 KB

Date:	January 15, 2026
Subject:	Applied Sciences Pathway Program
Category:	Career and Technical Education (CTE)
Next Steps:	Share with secondary administrators and appropriate CTE staff Attend informational webinar

Overview

House Bill 20, passed by the 89th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, establishes the Applied Sciences Pathway Program in Texas Education Code, §29.914. This program is designed to provide students in grades 11-12 with opportunities to concurrently earn a high school diploma and complete a certificate program with a successful job placement rate in high-wage, high-growth jobs in one of the following industries:

plumbing and pipe fitting
electrical
welding
sheet metal
carpentry
masonry
diesel and heavy equipment
aviation maintenance
heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
construction management and inspection

mechanical and aerospace engineering
industrial maintenance and processes
robotics and automation
information technology and cybersecurity
oil and gas exploration and production
refining and chemical processes
transportation distribution and logistics
manufacturing and industrial technology
electronics technology
automotive technology

Districts may begin implementing this program with the 2026-27 school year.

Key Provisions

The purpose of the program is to enable students in grades 11 and 12 to complete a non-duplicative sequence of courses leading to a high school diploma and a Level I or II certificate or credential of value recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. School system administrators may apply to substitute college-level CTE program courses for courses that satisfy high school graduation requirements.

The application for the 2026-27 school year opens January 15, 2026, and closes May 15, 2026. Additional information and resources, including a link to the application, are included on TEA’s Applied Sciences Pathway Program web page.

Graduation Requirement Substitutions
The commissioner may approve the substitution of a credit required for graduation with successful completion of a college-level CTE program course that substantially covers the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) of an identified high school course. There is no limit on the number of credits a student may substitute while participating in the program; however, there are end-of-course assessment requirements that a student must meet before earning credit for a substitution in English language arts, mathematics, science, or social studies. Additionally, an approved CTE program course substitution may satisfy only one credit toward graduation and may not apply to more than one subject area. CTE program course substitutions must be submitted to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for approval as part of the Applied Sciences Pathway Program application process.

Additional Provisions
Time spent in the program counts toward the minimum instructional hours required for full-time status in average daily attendance. For student scheduling and planning purposes, participation in this program does not restrict students from enrolling in other CTE or dual credit courses prior to joining the program.

Transportation
Funding for transportation of students from a high school location to an institution of higher education (IHE) to complete coursework in an Applied Sciences Pathway Program is provided at the effective cost per mile for regular route services for the preceding school year, with no maximum rate or amount set by legislative appropriation. The average cost per mile rate is approximately $5.00. For more information about the CTE transportation allotment visit the TEA School Transportation Funding web page.

Webinar

Additional program application and implementation details will be shared in a webinar on February 18, 2026, from 9:00-10:00 a.m. CST. If you have a question you would like to have addressed during the webinar, submit it via the Applied Sciences Pathway Program Webinar Questions Form. Register for the webinar.