How Texas Lege 2025 Can Invest In Rural Students

Around half of the independent school districts in Texas are located in rural areas, enrolling an estimated 900,000 students — the most rural students in the nation. And during this year’s legislative session, Texas lawmakers have several opportunities to invest in their success — without raising taxes.

Our new report, “Improving Funding Efficiencies for Classroom-to-Career Programs in Texas,” outlines how a braided funding model — which combines multiple funding sources to support a single program — can support proven career programs in high schools across the state.

These programs can have an especially positive impact on Texas’ estimated 900,000 rural students by facilitating the expansion of successful rural classroom-to-career programs like Rural Education and Economic Pathways (REEP) in East Texas, the Rural Pathways Excellence Partnership (R-PEP) in South Texas, and Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) which is currently operating in 72 schools in rural Texas school districts.

Students in these programs are outperforming the state in the attainment of industry-based certifications. 

Calculations by Texas 2036; Data from Texas Education Agency – Texas Academic Performance Reports.

Legislative Opportunities

Connect labor market demand data to local school program offerings, with an emphasis on ensuring school districts and their regional partners have easy access to make informed decisions based on this data.

Update state law to reflect the growing demand for R-PEP programs. Current funding for R-PEP programs is capped at $5 million in statute—enough funding for around 10-12 RPEPs. Yet, there are over 600 school districts that meet the minimum R-PEP enrollment threshold, and 50 of these have expressed interest in launching an R-PEP since 2023.

Increase the number of P-TECH programs in rural schools by funding planning grants to help districts stand these programs up and increase annual funding for existing P-TECH programs. From purchasing college textbooks to extra transportation costs, P-TECH schools report elevated ongoing expenditures that require increased state funding.

Texas Voters Agree