On 30 August 1996, Governor George Bush submitted an application to the federal government requesting $61 million over five years to implement a statewide School-To-Work (STW) system. The Texas Education Agency, The Texas Workforce Commission, The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board all signed a memorandum of understanding committing agency resources to implementation of the plan. States are required to plan for the participation of "all students," identify barriers for the participation of any students and propose ways of overcoming these barriers. The Texas proposal lists "limited STW options in rural areas and for home-schoolers" as one of the barriers hindering participation of all students. It proposes a marketing campaign to reach home schoolers.

A School-To-Work system as spelled out in the literature about STW involves the total transformation and reorganization of the public educational system and the private business sector through: the systematic implementation of a certification system based on knowledge and skill standards developed by the nation and the state; the provision of government services and support to enable each person to meet the standards; and a cradle to grave tracking system.

The foundation of the certification and tracking system is the Certificate of Initial Mastery which will eventually replace the graduation diploma. The standards, assessments, and certification system will be used for certifying financial eligibility for government services, health status, personal and interpersonal qualities or "skills," job eligibility, job placement, job security, and career advancement. Individuals will be tracked through social security number by income, job placement and advancement in order to determine the effectiveness of educational programs.

The certificate is like a comprehensive report card that follows a person for the rest of his life and will be "transferable" (computerized) and "portable" (as in a magnetic strip on a credit card). Employers will be encouraged not to hire anyone for "good" jobs unless they have the certificate. Those now in the workforce will be encouraged to obtain the certificate if they lose their job and want to obtain another. Texas plans call for validating national skill standards ad entering into agreements with other states for mutual recognition of credentials.

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