Community Partnerships

Purpose

The Vision of the Community Partnerships initiative is to support significant improvements in educational and developmental outcomes for Texas students by providing access to great schools in supported and supportive communities. Background

Consistent with the General Appropriations Act, 88th Legislature, Texas Education Agency Rider 41 Student Success Initiative, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) shall award grants to schools with high percentages of students who do not perform satisfactorily on relevant state assessments, and that serve the most struggling neighborhoods, as determined by the Commissioner, to implement a comprehensive support program that increases the number of students performing on grade level by leveraging academic, community, and governmental supports. The Commissioner shall prioritize issuing awards based on applications that demonstrate a commitment to improved outcomes on clear performance measures.

What are Community Partnerships?

The ultimate goal is to build community strength and provide students and families with effective schools and access to high-quality coordinated programs for social service, health, and academic support. TEA has identified four systems of practices for turning around struggling schools and communities.

I. Diagnosing and Aligning the Initiative to school and community needs
II. Effective Schools and Academic Programs Improvements
III. Purposely Engaging Families in Grades PreK-12
IV. Engaging Strong and Intentional Partnerships

Current Grantees

Many school districts have been served by the Community Partnership Initiative grant program. The following grant awardees are using grant funds to improve educational outcomes for their students: Dallas ISD, Houston ISD, Pharr San Juan Alamo ISD, Sanger ISD, Chappel Hill ISD, Hearne ISD, Marlin ISD, and Premont ISD. Each school district has a chosen a different focus and developed a plan designed to best serve the needs of the students and families in their communities.

Future Opportunities

The next cycle of the Community Partnership Initiative grant program is anticipated to launch in the fall of 2023. The launch date will be announced here when the applications become available.