**Students must be currently enrolled in or have taken a CTE course related to the respective CTSO to partake in organizational membership.

CTSO Overview

Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) are co-curricular activities that enrich CTE programs of study, and provide students with opportunities to highlight their learning experiences through competitions, leadership skills, scholarships, and networking with professionals. The term ‘career and technical student organization’ means an organization for students enrolled in a career and technical education program that engages in career and technical education activities as an integral part of the instructional program.

State charters for Texas CTSOs are held by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), which has the responsibility for leadership and fiscal oversight of each organization, as well as integration of CTSO activities into a state-approved CTE program of study. TEA sponsors the following CTSOs:

1. Texas FFA
2. Texas Future Business Leaders of America
3. Skills USA Texas
4. Texas Association of Future Educators
5. Texas Business Professionals of America
6. Texas DECA
7. Texas Family Career and Community Leaders Association
8. Texas Health Occupations Student Association
9. Texas Technology Student Association

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has best aligned the following 9 state-approved CTSOs to each of the clusters below. Click here to access the cluster table

Additional links: 

TEA CTSO support: CTSO Support Link 

ACTE Technique Publications: https://www.acteonline.org/publications/techniques/

IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS:

• CTSO Campus Commitment Form. 
• Houston ISD Sample CTSO Portfolio. 
  • For a quick overview of the policies and procedures teachers need to be aware of with regard to the CTSO Portfolio, view the CTSO Advisor Checklist.
• CTSO Extra Duty Pay Form.
• 2024-2025 Competition Map and Processing Timeline. 

IMPORTANT REMINDER:
**A CTSO Portfolio and Extra Duty Pay Reimbursement Form must be submitted in the Fall semester if you are sponsoring a CTSO for the entire school year.

CTSO Extra Duty listed on the form will be split into two separate payments: half in the Fall and half in the Spring. We allocate funds for pay based on the Fall reimbursement submissions. Thus, the budget will not have sufficient funds to cover your spring or full-year reimbursement if we do not receive your reimbursement form by the Fall due date.

2024-2025 Sponsor Expectations

1. 1. The CTSO sponsor shall inform Campus and Central Office Administrators of the desire to sponsor a CTSO which aligns to CTE courses taught by completing and submitting the CTSO Sponsor Commitment Form.
   2. Review the District CTSO Guidelines each year (Click here to access the 2024-2025 guidelines).