One of the key components of the "Texas Miracle" has always been a robust public education system. That’s why continuing to improve funding for education and strengthening the accountability system are top priorities for the Greater Houston Partnership. Whether you are a veteran in education policy or looking for a refresher ahead of the 89th Texas Legislature, here are five questions to get you thinking about how we approach education in Texas.  How is public education funded in Texas? Public Education in Texas is funded from three sources:   Local property taxes  Determined by the value of properties in each district and the tax rate set by each school board. State appropriations Funded through numerous state taxes, including Texas’ sales tax. Federal appropriations It broadly covers the costs of providing meals and supporting disabled and low-income students. What happened with education funding in the 2023 Texas Legislative Session? Legislators made several attempts to increase public school funding in 2023 via numerous bills. For example, HB100 would have raised the basic allotment (baseline per-pupil funding) for the first time since 2019. HB4586 would have mandated annual increases to the basic allotment. SB9 would have raised teacher salaries and expanded funding for early childhood education. These bills eventually failed due to political differences and the legislative session’s very short 140-day timeline. Additional education funding was provided in other ways, however:  HB1605 provided additional funding to schools that adopt high-quality instructional materials, and HB3 provided additional funds for school safety.  How do we maintain or strengthen accountability for education across Texas? School accountability is about more than just a grade – school accountability happens when families and stakeholders are provided clear and accurate data on schools, schools receive ratings based on students’ academic proficiency, and there are consequences – high-performing schools are rewarded and recognized. In contrast, low-performing schools are required to implement intervention plans. How do we measure success in Public Education, and what policies can improve outcomes?  Public Education is successful when it prepares students to succeed upon graduation, whether through college, a career, or the military. Student outcomes can be improved through policies prioritizing high academic proficiency, school safety, and teacher recruitment and retention. What other education policy discussions will be popular in Austin this session? AI’s integration into education will be an essential issue to watch. AI has many applications to assist teachers and students, and schools are eager to embrace the new technology.  Teacher workforce issues will also be a central topic. Texas has been working to improve teacher recruitment and retention for several years, and those conversations are expected to continue in 2025. Learn more about the Partnership's Legislative Priorities, click here. For more updates and alerts on the Texas Legislature, click here to sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Since its launch in 2014, the Greater Houston Partnership’s UpSkill Houston initiative has become a cornerstone of regional workforce development, uniting leaders from over 200 businesses, educational institutions, and community organizations to create a skilled and resilient workforce for the Houston and Texas Gulf Coast region. Celebrating 10 years of impact, UpSkill Houston has focused on building talent pipelines essential to the growth and global competitiveness of local industries. UpSkill Houston's regional impact: 150 employers engaged in four industry sector collaboratives focused on building talent pipelines. Over 70 education, community and workforce organizations committed to collaborating with employers. More than 200,000 students impacted, showcasing how deeply intertwined UpSkill’s work is with both the business community and our educational institutions.  Fostering Industry and Education Partnerships One of UpSkill Houston’s key strengths lies in the partnerships it has fostered between industry and education. Through collaborations with Greater Houston Partnership members and partners, these efforts have spurred the development of workforce programs that not only meet the needs of local employers but also provide students with direct paths to sustainable careers. Examples include: San Jacinto College’s Center for Petrochemical Energy and Technology Alvin Community College and Lonza collaboration Industrial Craft Competition at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo   A Catalyst for Economic Mobility  “UpSkill Houston plays an important role in the Partnership’s ‘Opportunity for All’ pillar, which aims to increase economic prosperity and mobility for residents while ensuring industries have the skilled workers needed to grow the region’s economy and strengthen its global competitiveness,” Katie Pryor, the Partnership’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, said during the 10th anniversary conference.   In 2023, the Burning Glass Institute (BGI) selected the Greater Houston and Texas Gulf Coast region to be its partner site for its Jobs That Mobilize (JTM) initiative. The initiative is testing and deploying a new data-driven approach that uses skills adjacencies to help workers achieve greater mobility in the Houston region. BGI’s research has uncovered several key insights: On average, skills-based transitions provide a 15 percent wage increase between origin roles and JTM roles.  JTM roles provide long-term mobility for workers.  Roles often expand talent pools for employers by twice or three times more. According to BGI, 37 percent of the skills requirements for a given occupation have changed over the past five years. BGI President Matt Sigelman provided three things the Houston region must do to ensure growth and economic opportunity: Know what talent you will need and where the gaps lie.   Develop a strategy for targeted upskilling and reskilling.  Grow the pie by tapping hidden talent pools and playing your whole team.   Preparing for Houston’s Future Workforce As the regional economy transitions from industrial into a knowledge-based, technology-enabled economy, UpSkill Houston will continue its leadership in driving a skills-first approach that meets the changing demands of employers. “Our human capital is the Houston region’s single greatest asset,” Peter Beard, Sr. Vice President of regional workforce development, said. “Our workforce, whether we cultivate and develop it here in the region or attract it from other parts of the country or world, our workers are the backbone, brainpower, innovation, and ultimately, they are the power that drives and grows our economy.” As UpSkill Houston enters its second decade, the initiative remains committed to ensuring that Houston’s workforce is equipped with the skills needed to thrive in the region’s evolving economy, while continuing to drive inclusive economic growth for all residents. See how UpSkill Houston's decade of collaboration continues to shape the future of workforce mobility and drive economic growth for our region. Learn more about how you can get engaged in UpSkill.