Texas 2036 says education reforms are boosting credentials and workforce links

Texas 2036 released a new analysis Wednesday saying Texas' K-12 and higher education reforms are producing gains for students, including a 532% jump in postsecondary credentials earned in high school since 2018. The report also warns that Texas still needs better data systems to connect education spending with job outcomes.

Why it matters: - Texas has spent years shifting education funding toward student outcomes instead of enrollment counts. - The changes are intended to connect K-12, college and workforce systems so more students earn credentials that lead to good jobs. - Texas 2036 says the reforms could help determine whether public dollars are delivering measurable economic value.

What happened: - Texas 2036 released The Next Generation of the Texas Miracle in Austin on July 9, 2026. - The report reviews major K-12, higher education and workforce reforms adopted over the past several years. - Texas 2036 says the reforms are already producing gains for students. - The report also identifies data gaps that could limit the state's long-term economic progress.

The details: - House Bill 3, passed in 2019, added outcomes to the school finance formula for the first time. - HB 3 created College, Career and Military Readiness Outcomes Bonuses for districts when graduates meet benchmarks tied to postsecondary and career success. - House Bill 8, passed in 2023, shifted community college funding away from enrollment and toward outcomes. - HB 8 rewards dual credit completion, transfer to a four-year university and credentials of value. - Texas later made college and career readiness a formal goal of public education in 2025. - The 2025 changes also reworked the school accountability system to recognize and reward higher-value college and career pathways. - Texas previously treated all college and career paths equally in the accountability system. - Texas 2036 says some earlier indicators were less predictive of success after high school graduation. - Postsecondary credentials earned in high school have risen 532% since 2018. - Community colleges awarded 140,000 Credentials of Value in 2024. - Dual credit courses taken by high school students have grown 35% since 2018. - Students ages 25-30 with some college through advanced degrees earn 7.2% to 85.3% more than peers with only a high school diploma. - Rural students who complete blended college and career pathways earn a $17,170 wage premium six years after graduation. - Texas Workforce Commission is undergoing Sunset review, which can lead to operational or statutory changes. - Texas 2036 is pushing for data modernization and interoperability reforms during that review. - The organization wants the state to track whether credentials meet employer needs across Texas communities. - The full report is available as Connecting Credentials to Good Jobs.

Between the lines: - Texas has already moved from funding inputs to rewarding outcomes, but the state still lacks a complete picture of which programs produce the best results. - The report frames data integration as the missing piece that would let Texas separate strong pathways from weaker ones. - The policy shift also reflects a broader effort to align education with workforce demand rather than treating college and career tracks as interchangeable.

What's next: - Texas 2036 says the Sunset review is a key opportunity to modernize data systems and improve how education and workforce outcomes are tracked. - Policymakers will need to decide whether to strengthen reporting, interoperability and program evaluation across agencies. - The report suggests future gains depend on expanding pathways that lead to strong wages and greater mobility.

The bottom line: - Texas has made major progress tying education to jobs, but the state still needs better data to prove which reforms work best and where to invest next.