January 21, 2008
— Groundbreaking research made possible by a $650,000 grant
from the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation–
Austin, TX – The E3 Alliance announced today that they have received a $650,000 grant from the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation to support ground-breaking education research and data analysis needed to improve student performance across the Central Texas region. The funds will be applied to building an objective performance framework to support community decision making about where and how resources and practices can best be applied to achieve the highest educational and economic outcomes.
E3 Alliance, for Education Equals Economics, is a regional collaboration of business and education partners created to be a catalyst for change in Central Texas. Despite performance gains across most Central Texas schools in recent years, there remains a significant gap between student outcomes and what the region needs to be successful in a globally competitive economy. The E3 Alliance has already created the Central Texas Education Profile – the most comprehensive review of education trends and outcomes available for any region in the state, and perhaps the country.
“While a significant amount of data is collected about education—especially in the kindergarten through grade 12 space— there is still a lack of a clear perspective that allows for good decision making about resource allocation and other activities influencing student performance, college and workforce success,” said Zeynep Young, Portfolio Director (Texas) at the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation. “In order to make sense of existing data and develop actionable recommendations, there needs to be more analysis to better understand what factors and activities contribute to different results for students in the long run.”
“We are extremely grateful to the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation for their support of the research being conducted by the E3 Alliance,” said Susan Dawson, president and executive director of the E3 Alliance. “We are committed to the use of information to provide effective, long-lasting solutions. Our continued research supports the Blueprint for Change in education and provides the basis for managing education performance on a regional level.”
E3 Alliance
The E3 Alliance was formed in May of 2006 as a regional collaborative to increase global competitiveness, economic vitality and overall quality of life for Central Texas by aligning our education systems to better fulfill the potential of every citizen. Founding partners are Austin Community College (ACC), the Austin Area Research Organization (AARO), the University of Texas, and dozens of businesses, foundations, educational institutions and community-based organizations are active partners.
Guided by an objective data map and a clear community vision, the E3 Alliance proposes to better align the practices of our regional education system and allocate investments and services more efficiently to dramatically and sustainably increase educational outcomes. The E3Alliance is the Central Texas P-16 Council.
Michael & Susan Dell Foundation
The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation (www.msdf.org ) is dedicated to improving the lives of children living in urban poverty around the world. With offices in Austin, TX and New Delhi, India, the Dell family foundation funds programs that foster high-quality public education and childhood health, and improve the economic stability of families living in poverty. With an endowment of $1.3 billion, the foundation has committed almost $450 million to global children’s issues and community initiatives to date.
