Greater Texas Foundation awarded a $1,275,800 grant to Educate Texas to launch the Texas College Access Network (TxCAN). With these funds, TxCAN will increase postsecondary access for Texas students by building statewide partnerships, strengthening local college access networks, and scaling best practices.
“Counselors, advisors, mentors, and other practitioners across the state are working hard to help students achieve their higher education goals,” said Sue McMillin, president and CEO of Greater Texas Foundation. “TxCAN will connect these professionals with each other in an ongoing, highly structured way, ultimately strengthening efforts to increase college access and completion in the state.”
TxCAN will provide several services for practitioners who help students to and through college, including:
- Virtual and in-person professional development opportunities for teachers and counselors
- Standardized and actionable data to guide decision-making for nonprofits, collective impact backbone organizations and schools
- A quality blueprint framework local college access organizations can use to assess and improve their work
- Annual statewide and regional convenings to allow college access professionals to interact and share information
- Policy information and advocacy to strengthen postsecondary access and success
“College access is a top priority when it comes to growing and educating the next generation of leaders in our state and beyond,” said John Fitzpatrick, executive director of Educate Texas. “We appreciate partners such as Greater Texas Foundation who join with us in our continued efforts to increase postsecondary access for all Texas students.”
