Excel in CTE (formerly Senate Bill 155), or the Governor’s CTE Bill, was passed into law on July 1, 2012. 

The purpose of Excel in CTE is to encourage growth in Career & Technical Education. It is projected that the Kansas workforce will continue to demand more technical and skilled workers. Thus, the goal of Senate Bill 155 is to meet such market demands by encouraging CTE education at both the secondary and post-secondary levels.

There are several parts to the bill, however the portion of the bill that impacts THS students, is the tuition reimbursement for college-level CTE courses. Students are required to pay for books, tools, materials, as well as uniforms, however the reduction in cost for such programs is significant.

Tech School allows for students to gain additional skill set(s), as well as certification(s) and credentials before graduating high school. Furthermore, this opportunity allows students' to make themselves more marketable for entering the workforce directly after graduation and/or it provides them with a foundation before continuing on with their post-secondary endeavors.

Tonganoxie High School has partnerships with both Washburn Tech & KCKCC Tech. High school students who are Juniors or Seniors can attend tech school. Some of the tech programs last for 1 semester, while others last an entire year or even 2 years. Thus, it is important for students to identify their current skills, abilities and interests, as well as career aspirations and align them with potential tech school opportunities. More importantly, it is vital that students stay on track with their graduation requirements so that they are eligible for tech school opportunities. 

Make sure to plan ahead as much as a year in advance, as enrollment for tech school programs fill up fast. Each Tech school has specific requirements for enrollment that may also vary based on the program of interest. 

Sophomore & Junior Students – Tech School Interest Form: https://forms.gle/9rq26U7V2MXAyLwKA 

Sophomore and junior students interested in attending tech school during their junior or senior year must complete the Google sign-up form that was emailed on September 26, 2025. Please note: even if you filled out the form last year, you need to complete it again this year.

After completing the form, Student Services will schedule individual one-on-one meetings to:

• Review entrance requirements
  
  

• Confirm whether tech school will work with your THS schedule
  
  

• Walk you through the application process
  
  

• Assist with registering for the Accuplacer placement test, if needed.
  
  

Important Enrollment Dates:

• Washburn Tech: Opens January 15, 2026
  
  

• KCKCC Tech: Opens April 1, 2026
  
  

Please note: students who indicate interest in Washburn Tech (or in both schools) will be scheduled for one-on-one meetings first, beginning with current juniors who will be seniors next year.