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, certifications 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. Students should sign-up to take the Accuplacer test for placement during the first semester of their sophomore year. Refer to the direct pages for each school for specifics.

Sophomore and junior students interested in attending tech school during their junior or senior year(s) of high school need to fill out a google sign-up form (to be sent out). Even if you filled out this form last year, please fill it out again.

Student services will pull you in for an individual one-on-one meeting to discuss whether or not you meet the entrance requirements and if it will work with your local schedule at Tonganoxie High School. Additionally, we will walk you through the application process and assist you with signing up for the Accuplacer placement test, if applicable.

Washburn Tech enrollment opens up January 15, 2026

KCKCC Tech enrollment opens up April 1, 2026

Please note, students indicating that they want to attend Washburn tech or either school will be pulled in for one-on-one meetings first.