Empower Rural Texas

Shaping the future of rural education. Advocating for rural school innovation.

What We Do

We partner with state leaders and rural community champions to create and scale enabling policies and localized partnerships that expand postsecondary opportunities for rural students and accelerate rural economic development in their regions. 

Rural Collaboratives

We build coalitions between district schools, institutions of higher education, and local industries to design, launch, and scale career-connected learning programs designed to help students find academic and career success.

Learning Communities

We identify, support, and inspire leaders to build innovative solutions with their communities. Learning convenings and fellowships allow leaders to exchange ideas with peers from around the country.

Policy and Thought Leadership

We champion state-level policy action with a focus on equipping rural students to excel at college and career.

Rural Matters

Texas rural education by the numbers.

Rural Students in the US:

1 in 5

Texas students attending rural schools:

900k

Rural Texas students who are people of color:

44%

Rural Texas students qualifying for free or reduced lunch:

47%

Rural Texas students who pursue postsecondary education:

64%

compared to 70% of non rural students

Building Policy

The Rural Schools Innovation Zone (RSIZ) is a first-of-its kind collaboration between 5 South Texas school districts and 36 institutions of higher education.

RSIZ academies help students work towards competitive college and career-connected learning opportunities, helping them get started in pathways including:

  • Construction

  • Education

  • Electrical engineering

  • HVAC

  • Welding

  • Healthcare

  • STEM

  • Other growing regional industries

Inspired by the success of the RSIZ, lawmakers passed the Rural Pathway Excellence Partnerships (R-PEP) program to support and fund future rural collaboratives during the Regular Session of the 88th Texas Legislature.

% Earning Dual Credit

% Industry Certification

Students who attended Rural Innovation academies surpassed their state peers in career-connected outcomes.

Students are earning college credit and industry certifications for careers that provide a family-sustaining wage

at 3x the rate of state peers.

Fueling Rural Growth

and counting

In funds raised, new resources leveraged, and economic development nurtured for rural communities.

Where We Work

We’re proud to collaborate with rural leaders throughout Texas. Our partners and program participants live and work in over 100 Texas rural cities, school districts, and institutions including:

Don’t be a stranger.

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