With the release of House and Senate interim charges from the Texas Legislature, we have a clearer view of what may shape the upcoming legislative session. Interim charges are issues assigned to legislative committees for study and discussion between sessions. Over the coming months, committees in both chambers will schedule hearings, invite testimony, and develop recommendations that will inform legislation for the 90th Session.
Our Pathways Research Collaboratives are actively investigating questions critical to understanding postsecondary completion and workforce entry. While their complete findings won’t be available until Fall 2026, Collaboratives shared early insights at our recent February convening, and policy implications at our May virtual session.
A few initial insights from the Collaboratives include:
- Dual credit is expanding, particularly in rural areas, while AP participation remains stable.
- Teacher credentialing and campus-level course assignments often constrain dual credit offerings or expansion.
- Advising capacity shapes student access to courses and credentials.
Our recently released landscape analyses on Teacher Workforce, Early Childhood Education, and Public Education Finance align with topics in the interim charges, may be valuable to advocates advising legislative committees. Our initial research frameworks will lay the foundation for future investigations to better understand how implementation of current and future policies in these areas impacts students and teachers.
As these policy discussions evolve, LONESTARP3 is well-positioned to provide evidence to inform decision-making and connect policymakers with communities doing the work.
