Austin ISD has been granted $750,000 as part of the Texas Education Agency Community Partnerships Initiative. The grant will focus on aligning academic programming as a core structure in the Reagan Early College High School learning community, complemented by streamlined student and family supports.
Through this initiative, TEA intends to increase academic achievement in communities across Texas with the highest needs through academic, community and governmental partnerships to support students and families.
The grant will provide professional development to expand AVID, a multi-year program with a mission to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college readiness and success in a global society. The program is currently offered in all secondary campuses within the Reagan ECHS learning community and will now be expanded to the elementary schools.
Grant funds will also be used to create a new dashboard tool to help connect students and families with services across the community like housing, food pantries and mental health support. Family Resource Centers at the campuses will also help acquaint families with the dashboard to ensure services are accessible for all in need.
Administrators, teachers, parents, and community partners from the Reagan ECHS learning community participated in a six-month planning process to identify strengths and challenges in the community and prioritize action steps as part of the grant process. The results of the planning called for an aligned system of supports within the vertical team.
The district will partner with a small group of local and national organizations to provide technical assistance for each of the tasks and to meet the goals of the project. Learn more about some of the unique characteristics of the Reagan community. Austin Voices for Education and Youth, EcoRise and Communities in Schools have been a part of the leadership team over the past six months and will continue to be involved in the collective impact model.