Engineering, IT, Health Sciences, and Education to cultivate students traditionally underrepresented in
higher ed and high demand jobs

Austin, Texas – The pathway for historically underrepresented students in higher education and high demand, high wage jobs just got a lot smoother.  Thanks to a grant from the Greater Texas Foundation of $365,467, Pathways of Promise a new initiative led by E3 Alliance is the first in the state of Texas to take a deep look at the Career and Technology Education (CTE) programming in order to determine critical components that correspond with successful postsecondary outcomes and to increase the percentage of students who earn an industry certificate, succeed and persist in postsecondary enrollment, and secure an entry-level employment with better wage outcomes.
“Flexible pathways aligned with careers that were specified in HB5 legislation offer a tremendous opportunity for our students, but also add a great deal of complexity for schools, counselors, and families,” said Suzanne Burke, Ph.D. , Assoc. Supt. for Academics at Austin ISD, “Pathways of Promise offers us the best longitudinal research available on which course pathways help students succeed beyond high school.”
From February 2014 – December 2015, Round Rock ISD, San Marcos ISD, Bastrop ISD, and Austin ISD districts will partner with E3 Alliance to identify promising practices in Central Texas and to develop recommendations for improving CTE pathways across the region and inform practice across the state.
The program will have an in-depth research component, as well as a professional development part for school staff and counselors to continuously improve the counseling students receive about their career opportunities.  There will also be an alignment of high school and higher education career pathways to ensure a smooth and clear transition.

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Education Equals Economics (E3 Alliance), is a regional, data-driven, education collaborative based in Austin, Texas.
We are leading the effort to build the strongest educational pipeline in the country to drive economic prosperity for Central Texas. We do this by using objective data and focused community collaboration to align our education systems so that all students can succeed. Together with the Central Texas community, we have created The Blueprint for Educational Change, our region’s strategic plan to build the strongest educational pipeline in the country. www.e3alliance.org
The Greater Texas Foundation (TGF), The Greater Texas Foundation supports efforts to ensure all Texas students are prepared for, have access to, persist in, and complete post-secondary education. We put particular focus on helping underserved and disadvantaged populations. We pursue our mission by forming partnerships, supporting research, sharing knowledge, and making grants. www.greatertexasfoundation.org
Pathways-of-Promise-Press-Release-03-28-14