Realizing that research, innovation and planning are necessary in order to positively affect future students in Texas, the THECB is undergoing a strategic planning process jointly supported by the Houston Endowment, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Meadows Foundation and Greater Texas Foundation.  The primary goal of the THECB’s strategic planning process is to establish an outcomes based student-centered culture at all Texas public colleges and universities.  The benefits of a university with a student-centered culture are immeasurable. In these institutions, student success is the highest campus priority, as measured by the number and percentage of students who complete rigorous programs and degrees with the measurable skills necessary for success beyond undergraduate education.

Current data on student progress and achievement in the state show areas that require quick attention if educational outcomes for students are to improve.  In Texas, less than half of those enrolling in post-secondary education go on to complete a post-secondary degree or credential within seven years of graduating high school.  This disconnect is currently the focus and central theme in the statewide Closing the Gaps initiative, with goals to increase rates of post-secondary participation and completion in Texas.  The total project cost is $546,000 with Greater Texas Foundation contributing $108,000 to support the process facilitated by FSG Social Impact Advisors. Beyond the creation of a strategic plan, FSG will also aid with the development of methods and strategies to implement and achieve these goals.  The plan is estimated to finish in March 2010.

Visit the Coordinating Board website to read more about the Closing the Gaps Initiative.

The Manhattan Institute Award for Social Entrepreneurship honors nonprofit leader who have founded innovative, private organizations to help address some of America’s most pressing social problems.  Throughout our history, the United States has been distinguished by the capacity of citizens to address social problems through new organizations established through their own initiative.  From Clara Barton and the American Red Cross to Millard Fuller and Habitat for Humanity, Americans have consistently come forward, without prompting or assistance from government, to organize nonprofit action to improve American society by providing services to those in need.  It is those who follow in such footsteps whom the Manhattan Institute Social Entrepreneurship Award seeks to recognize.

To visit the Manhattan Institute’s website, click here.

To read more about the award, click here.

Visit the KIPP website.

Year: 2009

Grant: $75,000

Year: 2009

Grant: $108,000

Year: 2009

Amount: $108,000

The proposed three-year grant is a drop out prevention program aimed at grades 9 and 10 involving initially students located in two school districts (Manor in Austin; and Houston Independent School District). The intervention involves combining two essential elements of drop out prevention that heretofore have not been intertwined and evaluated: (a) improving outcomes in reading so that students have access to knowledge, and (b) implementing a check and connect procedure to assure students come to school and engage in learning. Though the grant proposes to develop, implement, and evaluate the effectiveness of this drop out prevention approach, the long-range intention is much larger and that is to influence policy in Texas with respect to developing state-wide effective practices for reducing drop out and increasing access to higher education for students traditionally under-represented in higher education (e.g. low income, minority). The intended outcomes are to: (a) develop a drop out prevention program that is feasible for implementation in Texas, (b) evaluate the efficacy of this program, and (c) to disseminate the materials and results as a means to influence public policy, reduce drop out statewide, and increase access to higher education

Year: 2007

Amount: $1,000

Year: 2006

Amount: $24,000