Austin Promise
Progress & Learning

There has been so much movement over the last few months in Austin's postsecondary landscape. AISD, ACC, Texas State - we see you! Thank you for the investments you are making to 1) ensure more high school graduates are college- and career-ready, 2) remove financial barriers to college, and 3) support degree completion. There is still important work ahead. 

1. SAVE THE DATES - Join us this month for two learning opportunities!

>Thursday, May 16, 10 AM - Noon (In-Person)
AISD College and Career Readiness Deep Dive at LBJ High School
Our next in-person meeting will be hosted by AISD at LBJ Early College High School. This will be a chance to better understand AISD's college and career readiness initiatives. We'll take a deep look at the district's college and career readiness goals and data and learn more about LBJ's Pre-Health Sciences program, including a chance to tour the lab and meet students. Calendar invitation to follow.  

>Thursday, May 30, 3 PM (Virtual)
Introduction to Promise Programs: Design, Outcomes, and Impact
We are delighted to have a chance to learn from senior researcher Michelle Miller-Adams and senior project consultant Bridget Timmeney both from the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research. The Upjohn Institute plays a leading role in research and evaluation of place-based scholarship programs.

This presentation will provide a landscape of the place-based scholarship or "Promise" movement and discuss the key design decisions facing stakeholders and how they can best align with our goals. There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion. Calendar invitation to follow.

2. RECENT INVESTMENTS IN POSTSECONDARY 

> March 7 and March 28 - College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) Presentations to AISD Trustees 
AISD Trustees and Superintendent Segura have made college and career readiness a district priority. In March, Dr. Creslond Fannin and other members of AISD's Teaching, Learning & Leading team made two presentations to the Board of Trustees to report on the district's progress toward CCMR outcomes bonus funding. Interested in learning more? Board President Arati Singh has invited Austin 2030 stakeholders to LBJ High School on Thursday May 16, when we'll have a chance to dig into the district's college and career readiness data, goals, and progress and tour LBJ's Pre-Health Sciences Lab.

> April 1 - ACC Board Approves Free-Tuition Pilot Program for Class of 2024
Russell-Lowrey-Hart's bold five-year, free-tuition pilot program will begin with the Class of 2024 and continue for the next five years. As a first-dollar program, students can still apply for financial aid and scholarships to support other college and life expenses, including childcare, living expenses, food, and housing. 

Ongoing planning is underway to examine future phases of the program that would allow the college to expand ACC Free-Tuition to more student populations. 

> April 12 - AISD joins Economic Mobility Systems' (EMS) College and Career Network
AISD has signed a three-year contract with EMS to develop a comprehensive student-level management platform using Salesforce's open architecture to assist teachers and leaders in developing real-time action plans for CCMR (college, career, and military readiness) accountability. 

> April 18 - ACC and Texas State Launch Bats to Cats Guaranteed Transfer Program
Have exciting news you'd like us to share?
Email Stacey at stacey.oliver@austin2030.org.

3. PROGRESS TOWARD RECOMMENDED ACTION & THE WORK AHEAD
In 2021, Austin 2030 commissioned a postsecondary landscape study to understand existing resources and opportunities and to identify gaps and barriers pertaining to postsecondary readiness and success. Overwhelmingly the study revealed an energetic postsecondary community with lots of assets and goodwill, but one which was highly fragmented and uncoordinated. The study’s authors offered the following four recommendations for action, which have informed the shared work and investments of the Network over the last two years:

1. Establish Shared Postsecondary Vision, Goal, and Framework
2. Develop Postsecondary Data Infrastructure
3. Build Adult Capacity
4. Align Stakeholders

Austin does not want for talent, creativity, or resources. Our Network formed to better organize and leverage the assets of our community on behalf of our children and youth.

We are excited to see Austin 2030 partners making tactical investments and launching strategic initiatives to move the needle on postsecondary readiness and success for our city's youth. There is still important work ahead for all of us. Austin 2030 is committed to fostering the intentional alignment, coordination, and integration essential for this complex work.