of all graduates end up receiving a postsecondary degree or credential within six years.

chance of earning a self-sustaining wage

for the majority of young adults in Texas.

High-demand, high-wage jobs require additional preparation beyond high school.

By 2030, 62% of jobs will require some sort of postsecondary credential.⁴⁵ In response to this workforce need, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board created Building a Talent Strong Texas goals and strategies to improve credential of value attainment, reduce student debt, and work more collaboratively within the Tri-Agency.⁴⁶

Coursework taken in high school is a strong predictor of outcomes.

There is substantial evidence that taking advanced coursework (AP, IB, dual credit) and work-based learning experiences (internships, apprenticeships, etc.) in high school leads to improved postsecondary outcomes, such as higher postsecondary enrollment and enhanced wages. However, access to and participation in such coursework – particularly for Black, Hispanic, and rural students – remains shockingly low across the state. ^{49 50}

Texas has made significant investments to improve postsecondary access and completion…

Since 2019, Texas has invested in several programs and initiatives to connect education and workforce:

• The Tri-Agency Initiative connects TEA, THECB, and the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). The three agencies are required to meet regularly, set goals, create a “credential library,” and provide data to the public on student education and workforce outcomes.⁵¹ 
• The College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) Outcomes Bonus provides funding to districts for graduates who meet CCMR criteria. 
• The Rural Pathway Excellence Partnerships (R-PEP) allows rural school districts to enter into partnerships with other school districts to create college and career pathways, providing for additional funding for participating districts.⁵²
• HB 8 (88R) codified recommendations from The Texas Commission on Community College Finance, changing the state’s community college funding formula to be outcomes-based.⁵³

…but barriers still remain

• Many of the requirements laid forth in the Tri-Agency initiatives have not yet been fulfilled, such as the creation of shared dashboards, website updates, and other outcomes reporting. Failure to create common definitions, poor governance, and leadership turnover have all contributed to a struggling initiative.⁵⁴ 
• The CCMR Outcomes Bonus is underutilized and over-reliant on non-economically disadvantaged students to generate funding.⁵⁵ Texas has not invested enough in advising capacity, or the levers which make advising successful (such as timely data and professional development), which is necessary for many of these initiatives to make an impact at the student level.^{56 57}
• R-PEP is in high demand and is close to exhausting all its available allotment funds, and needs funding for technical assistance.
• HB 8 (88R) has a few unintended consequences that need to be “cleaned up” this session.⁵⁸