Our History

Educate Texas launched in 2003 as the Texas High School Project (THSP). Our initial motivation was the need to address the declining graduation rates for Texas high school students, as well as the low percentage of minority, low-income, and first-generation students earning higher education degrees or credentials.  

In 2010, the THSP relaunched as Educate Texas to better represent the broader scope of work we undertake in our efforts to meet the ever-challenging needs of education in Texas – to not only educate students but also support teachers as well as the leaders responsible for the education systems’ ultimate success. 

In 2015, inspired by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s 60x30TX Strategic Plan, Educate Texas recognized a new motivation: by 2030, approximately 60% of Texans 25-34 will require a higher education credential to be gainfully employed. ​In support of our mission, Educate Texas introduced the 20 by 2020 Student Success Plan and tightened its focus on four key impact areas: College and Career Readiness, Higher Education, Effective Teaching and Collective Impact. 

Today, as a strategic initiative of Communities Foundation of Texas, together with our partners, we are building thriving communities which require a thriving education system for our students across the state. For Texas to remain a leader in business and industry, the state must address the gap between our rapidly changing market demands and the skills and experiences of our students by increasing the number of students who earn college degrees or workforce certificates. Learn more about our work towards these goals in our 2025 Strategic Plan.