July 15, 2020 – The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has approved a course created by San Antonio ISD that will allow Career and Technical Education (CTE) students across the state to receive credit for summer internships. TEA approved the one-credit course titled “Student to Industry Connection” in June, and the course will be available beginning with the 2020-21 school year.
  
The TEA approval makes it the first high school course in the state to give CTE students credit for their summer internships. Any Texas school district will be able to offer the course to their CTE students, which will fulfill a state graduation elective credit.
 
The one-credit course better aligns with summer work. However, the course can also be used throughout the year when a one-credit course helps a student schedule around advanced courses and extracurricular programs.
 
“The benefit of this new course is that it accommodates students who don’t have time in their schedules to allow for a two-period course, which has been standard for other internship courses,” said SAISD Career & Technical Education Director Christina Mank-Allen, who created the innovative course. “It will provide the opportunity for more students to receive work-based learning they may not have pursued otherwise.”  
 
According to Mank-Allen, industry partners requested the ability to provide credit for internships to strengthen the number of students who applied. The new offering aligns to support internships offered statewide through the Texas Workforce Commission and locally through SA Works entities. 
 
The course is recommended for students in grades 11 and 12 who have successfully completed a minimum of two Career and Technical courses. Students will need to be enrolled by their counselor.
 
Course information will be on TEA’s Innovative Courses website by July 15. The course will remain in effect until the next revision of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) in Career Preparation.