State Senator Dan Patrick gave a report to the Greater San Antonio Chamber’s education committee Friday about issues important to area business leaders.
Greater chamber members are keenly interested in programs that prepare students for jobs. Education Committee Chairwoman Denise Green said they heard from the senator on measures addressing dual credit, more funding for career education and replacing the school funding taken away in the last session.
Committee members were interested to hear about Patrick's bill that would allow the business community to partner with public education much like the programs at the Alamo Academies to prepare students to work in the aerospace industry.
"It will allow more flexibility at the local district to do that and to allow those courses not to have to go through the TEA and be approved where they can get credit for those courses," Green said.
Green also said Patrick reported to the committee on his plan for high school graduation that includes a diploma in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) specialties as well as humanities, and move away from the 4 x 4 program in favor of credits weighted toward the student’s specialty.
