Governor Greg Abbott announced more than $2.5 million in grants to help rural Texas school districts build college and career pathways for their students.
On July 30, Abbott announced 17 Rural Pathway Excellence Partnership (R-PEP) planning and expansion grants totaling $2,560,000 to 17 rural school district partnerships, according to a news release from his office. The $200,000 planning grants, administered by the Texas Education Agency, will support prospective R-PEPs in designing pathways focused on labor market alignment, operational readiness and launch preparation, while $80,000 expansion grants will help existing partnerships add districts or pathways.
“Rural Texas students deserve access to high-quality college and career pathways,” Abbott said in the release. “These grants provide that opportunity so they can prepare for high-wage, high-demand jobs in their communities. Partnerships among rural school districts ensure every Texas student, no matter where they live, has the tools to succeed and to strengthen our state’s economic future.”
Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said Texas “educates the largest population of rural students in the nation,” calling the grants “a tangible example of our commitment to supporting rural school systems and the communities they serve.” Through R-PEP, he said, rural school systems can give students “access to high-quality college and career programing that will prepare them for in-demand fields and postsecondary success.”
The R-PEP program incentivizes rural districts to partner with neighboring districts to increase access to postsecondary pathways, according to the release, letting students benefit from expanded opportunities while promoting economic development in rural areas. The program was created through House Bill 2209 during the 88th Regular Legislative Session, building on the Rural Schools Innovation Zone, an initiative serving rural students in South Texas.