Gov. Rick Perry has announced a new workforce training initiative that aims to fast-track education for people with skills and real-world experience but without formal certification.
Perry said Tuesday that the Skilled Workforce Initiative would seek to meet the growing demand for skilled workers in areas such as advanced manufacturing with people who already have some training and experience, including military veterans and displaced workers.
Perry says that by assessing those students' skills and giving them credit for what they already know, the time to achieve certification can be cut dramatically. Less time will mean less cost as well.
The first classes would begin in September 2013 at Texas State Technical College campuses in Harlingen and East Williamson County.
