commentary
DEPT
by John Fitzpatrick
EDUCATING
TEXAS
Delivering
Results
Through the
Public-Private Model
In order to meet the needs of Texas’ changing demographics and ensure that our five
million students are prepared for today’s
dynamic, global marketplace, the state’s
leaders from PreK-12, higher education,
workforce development, and philanthropy
must work together both at the state and
regional levels to impact student success.
Since its founding in 2004, Educate
Texas, a public-private initiative of Communities Foundation of Texas, has collaborated
with a broad stakeholder base of partners
including the Governor’s Office, Texas
Education Agency, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Texas Legislature,
Texas Workforce Commission, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Ford Foundation,
Greater Texas Foundation, Michael & Susan
Dell Foundation, and The Meadows Foundation. Together we have directed more than
$400 million towards piloting, proving, and
replicating effective practices in classrooms
and school districts across the state.
Educate Texas believes the publicprivate framework can be used to more
effectively identify and establish policies
and practices that can generate the systems
change required across our edu