Tomball ISD's Pathways in Technology Early College High School Aiming for Fall 2023 Start

Tomball ISD is aiming to begin its health care P-TECH program in fall 2023 with 25 students, Chief Academic Officer Michael Webb said during a Sept. 12 presentation to the board of trustees.

P-TECH, which stands for Pathways in Technology Early College High School, is an open-enrollment high school that allows students to receive a credential or an associate degree alongside their diploma, according to the Texas Education Agency.

TISD has been working with HCA Houston Healthcare Tomball and Lone Star College-Tomball to launch the program in health professions and submitted its application to the TEA in December to be approved for a year of planning, which was approved, Community Impact Newspaper previously reported.

Webb and TISD Dean of Student Advancement Bob Thompson gave a presentation to the school board during its Sept. 12 workshop meeting alongside representatives from HCA Houston Healthcare Tomball and LSC-Tomball.

“In an early college model or in a P-TECH model, you have to apply every year with the state because the state has to verify that you have the plan and resources in place to execute the models,” Thompson said. “We are now beginning to start the program application that will allow them to say, ‘Yes, you can open next year in 2023.’”