The Promises and Pitfalls of House Bill 5: What We’ve Learned from 10 Years of Technical and Academic Endorsements in the Foundation High School Plan, Policy Brief No. 1

To integrate college and career readiness and optimize individual choice, the 83rd Texas legislature ratified House Bill 5 (HB5) in 2013.[i] The concept of college for everyone was not meeting the needs of the 51% of Texas graduates who did not enter college.[ii] With a 2014-15 implementation, HB5 aligned academic and career technical education (CTE) with postsecondary institutions, local industry needs, and streamlined graduation plans. Landmark changes were designed to increase student college and career opportunities.[iii] Systematic and ongoing evaluation of HB5 short- and long-term impacts is necessary to ensure changes in educational policy provide equitable opportunities for students whether attending college or entering the workforce.