CFT’s Educate Texas works to ensure students are able to maximize their potential and fuel a thriving Texas. Our focus has been on strengthening our Texas public and higher education systems to address our highest-need students and families.Building off the success of our 20×2020 strategic plan, Educate Texas is launching a new 2025 strategy.
The pandemic created additional challenges that have exacerbated the racial, education, and economic disparities for students and families across the country. As our partners across the state have been working on the safe and effective reopening of schools, Educate Texas has supported three critical efforts to address our educational needs: closing the digital divide, delivering effective teaching and learning – both on campus and remotely – and creating the workforce of today and tomorrow.
RECENT FOCUS ON INCREASING EQUITY
Digital Divide
A digital divide runs through Texas – the challenges in urban and rural contexts are different, but the underlying need is the same: access to high-quality broadband for students to learn and participate in the 21st century. Educate Texas has been supporting statewide efforts with the Governor’s Operation Connectivity, Texas 2036, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. Locally, we have supported the North Texas Internet for All Coalition, San Antonio’s Digital Inclusion Alliance, and the Texas Rural Funders Collaborative on strategies for rural communities.
Delivering Effective Teaching & Learning Both On Campus and Remotely
With schools managing the transition of students alternating between on-campus and remote instruction throughout the academic year, Educate Texas launched the Texas Learning Exchange to help equip administrators and teachers with guidelines and support for safe, effective teaching, whether that be in person or in a virtual or hybrid format.
Creating the Workforce of Today and Tomorrow
The future of work has long been a frequently discussed concept, but the pandemic has made it a reality we must address. Employers are adapting and redesigning their business models leading to a need for new skills, new opportunities, and new jobs. To fill these roles, Educate Texas has focused on reimagining how our education and training systems work to create a skilled Texas workforce now and for the future. Through purposeful local, state, and regional collaborations, we are developing strategies and models, such as career pathways, apprenticeships, and certificate programs, to ensure all Texas students have the ability to earn a living wage and contribute to a thriving Texas.
This story was originally featured in our 2020 annual report. For additional details and content, click here.
