COPPERAS COVE – Central Texas’ leader in Career & Technical Education is adding more opportunities to prepare students for life after high school.
Tuesday night, during its regular meeting, the Copperas Cove ISD Board of Trustees approved the addition of 11 new classes across five career programs. These courses will begin during the 2026-27 school year.
“This approval from the trustees just continues to cement our space as central Texas’ leader in CTE,” said Superintendent Dr. Brent Hawkins. “More than 60% of our high schoolers want to learn skills, crafts and trades, rather than attend a four-year college. Expanding our career program offerings into these fields, all the way down to 7th grade, provides opportunities for every student to find their passion.”
Among the approved courses, three engineering courses were added. Engineering Design Process was added to the course catalog for students in 7th-12th grades, with Intermediate Computer Aided Design & Drafting and Engineering Design and Presentation added for high school students.
Trustees also approved four construction science courses for students in 10th-12th grades: Electrical Technology I & II and Plumbing Technology I & II.
Trustees added three hospitality-track courses, with Hotel Management and Event & Meeting Planning available for all high school students and Hospitality Services for students in 10th-12th grades.
Finally, the board approved the addition of an Emergency Medical Technician course for juniors and seniors in high school from the Law & Public Service career cluster.
“We hope parents see that when they make The Cove Choice, the see a school district dedicated to helping every student succeed not just while they are in school, but through their life beyond graduation,” Dr. Hawkins said.
Currently, CCISD’s CTE department offers 45 industry certifications across 12 career tracks, the most within a 60-minute drive.
Trustees also unanimously approved the district’s calendar for the 2026-27 school year. The approved calendar starts school on Aug. 17th for students, with the last day of school scheduled for May 26, 2027.
Thanksgiving Break for next school year is set for Nov. 23rd-27th, Christmas Break for Dec. 21st-Jan. 1st and Spring Break for March 15th-19th. The approved calendar includes Bad Weather Make-up Days on Feb. 15th and May 10th.
“We know that parents are already planning ahead for next year,” Dr. Hawkins said. “We wanted to get our team members and parents this calendar as early as possible for them to do everything they need in preparing for next year.”
Trustees also approved partnerships with Tarleton State University and Coastal Bend College for the district’s Dual Credit program for next school year. The partnership with Coastal Bend is a new one in CCISD, while the partnership with Tarleton was approved for renewal next year.
The CCISD Board of Trustees is next scheduled to hold a Workshop/Special Called Meeting on March 9th and a Regular Meeting on March 23rd. Both meetings will begin at 6 p.m. in the Board Room at the District Service & Training Center.
Agendas for Board of Trustees meetings are posted outside the District Service & Training Center on South Main Street three business days prior to the meeting. Once posted, they can be viewed online at www.CCISD.com/SchoolBoard.