Did you know, Texas has the lowest percentage of adults who have graduated from high school of all states in the nation. Central Texas must make sure that all of our students reach their highest potential to ensure our economic competitiveness and quality of life as a region.

In our area of Central Texas, one quarter of 9th graders do not graduate from high school on time.  It’s time for Central Texas to show we care.  Here’s what you can do to become involved in helping our children’s education.

Are you a parent? Here’s what you can do…
• Read to your child every day, and talk to your child every day!
• If your child attends an early childhood education program, make sure it has a state or national accreditation
• Play with your young child everyday; make sure they know how to follow directions; let them help you around the house, talking about colors and shapes
• Stay involved in your child’s school and ask your child about school and homework daily

Everyone Can…
• Use and share the Born Learning Guides to help children ages birth through 5 years grow and learn.

Click here for HANDOUTS: ENGLISH / SPANISH

• Help your child be ready for Kindergarten! Use and share the Parent Guides for your Pre-K child to understand what they are learning in school and support it at home. 
HANDOUTS:
English: http://www.theblueprintforeducationalchange.org/Media/pg-fall-eng.pdf
Spanish: http://www.theblueprintforeducationalchange.org/Media/pg-fall-spn.pdf
• Support funding for early childhood education and access to high quality, full day Pre-K for all students who need that support. In the state of Texas, conservatively, every dollar invested in quality child care and pre-k programs results in a $3.50 return on investment per participating child

• In a global economy, you will have more opportunities if you know two or more languages.
• Take a class in another language and learn by speaking with native language speakers.
• Join One Hour for Kids to link up with organizations where you can mentor or tutor a student in need.
• Contact APIE about Coaching 2nd graders in reading or 8th graders in math
• Promote the “PUBV” message linking education to economic prosperity
o Make sure every student and family knows
„X Graduate high school and earn up to $1Million in your lifetime
Termine la secundaria y gane un millón de dólares en su vida
• Graduate college and earn an additional $1Million in your lifetime
Gane otro millón de dólares al graduar del colegio.
• Speak two languages and you will have more opportunity and a chance at better jobs
Aprende ingles bien pero no pierdas tu español. Tendrás mas oportunidades y podrás ganar mas dinero.
• Attend the Feria Para Aprender next February
• Work with the GAHCC Education Foundation to help provide outreach to the groups you are involved with.
• Get your neighborhood group or your congregation to help in a school.
• Talk to every student you know about graduating.
• Promote the “PUBV” message linking education to economic prosperity.  Make sure every student and family knows:
o Graduate high school and earn up to $1Million in your lifetime
Termine la secundaria y gane un millón de dólares en su vida
o Graduate college and earn an additional $1Million in your lifetime
Gane otro millón de dólares al graduar del colegio.
o Speak two languages and you will have more opportunity and a chance at better jobs
Aprende ingles bien pero no pierdas tu español. Tendrás mas oportunidades y podrás ganar mas dinero.
• Support local education-based organizations.
• Talk to every student you know about graduating.
Volunteer to be a Classroom Coach with Austin Partners in Education… http://www.austinpartners.org/

Are you a student? Here’s what you can do…
• Pick one thing that you like in art, music, sports or theatre and get really, really good at it
• Challenge yourself! Be the first in your family to go to college.
• If you get homework from your teacher, DO IT!
• Get ready for what happens after high school. Graduate with dual credit or advanced placement courses.
• No matter what grade you are in, ask your teacher, principal or counselor about what you should do to prepare for college
• Sign up for Early College Start – Take college classes for FREE in high school

Are you a Teacher? Here’s what you can do…
• Challenge all kids to graduate.
• Share good news with parents about their kids.
• Work at a high-needs school.
• Open your school to neighborhood volunteers
• Support childcare on site or help your employees with access to high quality early childhood education
• Have your company “adopt” a neighborhood school
• Give time off to your employees to volunteer in schools and encourage them to get involved
• Create programs to expose students to careers.
• Give time off to your employees to volunteer in schools and encourage them to get involved
• Have your company “adopt” a neighborhood school
• Join a school’s Career and Tech Ed Advisory Council.
Many of our area high schools have career and technical education (CTE) programs in IT, healthcare, engineering, culinary arts, and other areas. We need professional business people to serve on Advisory Councils for each of them to lend advice and real world relevance
• Teach job skills while reinforcing the value of their education! Our students need positive adult role models and a better understanding of the potential of what the real world holds. You can help by hiring students over the summer of in short internships or job shadowing, or just by speaking as a role model at a school.

Are you a business owner or work in a place of businesses? You can…
• Support childcare on site or help your employees with access to high quality early childhood education
• Have your company “adopt” a neighborhood school
• Give time off to your employees to volunteer in schools and encourage them to get involved
• Create programs to expose students to careers.
• Give time off to your employees to volunteer in schools and encourage them to get involved
• Have your company “adopt” a neighborhood school
• Join a school’s Career and Tech Ed Advisory Council.
Many of our area high schools have career and technical education (CTE) programs in IT, healthcare, engineering, culinary arts, and other areas. We need professional business people to serve on Advisory Councils for each of them to lend advice and real world relevance
• Teach job skills while reinforcing the value of their education! Our students need positive adult role models and a better understanding of the potential of what the real world holds. You can help by hiring students over the summer of in short internships or job shadowing, or just by speaking as a role model at a school.