Austin 2030 & the PK-16 network
Austin 2030 Network home page, 2025.
Austin is often called the "Silicon Hills"—a booming hub of innovation, tech giants, and unprecedented wealth. But while we attract the most educated workers in the world, our own home-grown students are being left behind, especially Black, Hispanic, and low-income youth.
Currently, only 12% of Austin’s Black and Hispanic graduates earn a degree or certificate within six years of leaving high school. In a city where two-thirds of jobs now require post-secondary credentials, this isn't just an education issue—it’s an economic crisis. This is the main problem that our featured organization Austin 2030—a citywide collective dedicated to fixing the "leaky pipeline" between high school and a career—is trying to solve. Austin 2030 exists because no single school district, nonprofit, or higher-ed campus can fix this alone; it requires collective action, aligned goals, shared accountability, and deep community partnerships.
When our local students can’t access the degrees or certifications needed for Austin’s workforce, two things happen:
Economic Displacement: Our kids are priced out of their own city because they can’t access living-wage careers.
A Talent Mismatch: Businesses continue to "import" talent while local families remain stuck in cycles of low-wage work.
A zip code in Austin should be a launchpad, not a barrier. That is why we are promoting the vision of Austin 2030.
What is Austin 2030?
The Austin 2030 Network isn't just another nonprofit; it’s a "network of networks" which we think is seriously awesome. It brings together AISD, UT Austin, Austin Community College (ACC), and business leaders to create the Austin Promise, a long-term, multi-phase plan to ensure every Austin graduate has the financial support, coaching, and workforce connections to succeed after high school into college.
They are currently in the listening and design phase, with a goal to launch the first "Promise" cohort by 2027.
Recommendations
If Texas is going to remain a global economic powerhouse, it must first lead in education, not only by fully funding our public schools but also by improving efficiency, spurring collective action, and creating effective conduits between high school and college. To strengthen the PK-16 pipeline, these are some steps that could be taken:
Establishing Regional "Data Bridges": Currently, K-12 districts and higher-ed institutions operate in silos. We have many university staff and students on this campaign that can attest to that separation! We need to see more state-level incentives to create shared data agreements between public schools and colleges to bridge the gap and help track students before they drop out of the pipeline.
The "Texas Promise" Matching Grant: Propose legislation to create a state fund that matches local "Promise" dollars. If Austin raises funds to guarantee tuition for our students, the State of Texas should meet us halfway to ensure the program’s long-term sustainability.
Streamlined "Vertical" Transfer Pathways: Make the jump from ACC to UT Austin or any Austin-area university clearer, ensuring students are properly resourced and coached through the process. While "common course numbering" does exist, UT has its own system, which can cause hopeful transfers confusion when selecting courses. We need better transfer legislation to ensure no student wastes time or money on credits that don't count toward their terminal degree.
Workforce Integration in the Classroom: Expand state funding for "P-TECH" and dual-credit models that allow students to earn associate degrees and industry certifications while still in high school, specifically tied to Austin’s high-growth tech and healthcare sectors.
The Bottom Line
If we aren't investing in the future of our own children, we are not investing in the future of Texas. Let’s together make Austin 2030’s vision a reality for every family in District 49 and beyond.
Join us at one of our upcoming informal events to share your thoughts on Austin’s public education system and more!
