Texas Reskilling and Upskilling through Education Pathways Design and Planning Grant

The Texas Reskilling and Upskilling through Education Pathways Design and Planning Grant is administered by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the state agency responsible for aligning higher education policy and funding with workforce needs across Texas. This grant opportunity is part of the broader TRUE Grant Program, which was established by the Texas Legislature to expand institutional capacity for delivering short-term, high-value workforce credentials. The program reflects statewide priorities outlined in workforce development strategies and is funded through legislative appropriations intended to strengthen the connection between postsecondary education and high-demand occupations. The purpose of this specific grant is to support public two-year institutions in Texas in designing and planning career and technical education pathways that lead to credentials of value. These pathways must align with high-demand fields identified through labor market data and employer engagement. The grant emphasizes structured progression from dual credit through certificates and into applied associate degrees, ensuring that each stage provides meaningful employment opportunities. The design process must incorporate both vertical and lateral credit articulation, reducing duplication and improving student mobility across credential levels. Funding is intended exclusively for planning and design activities rather than implementation. Allowable uses include personnel costs, technical assistance services, travel directly related to project execution, and tools that support labor market analysis and program design. A key requirement is that grantees engage a technical assistance provider with demonstrated experience in pathway development within Texas institutions. Technical assistance costs are capped at fifty thousand dollars. Certain expenditures are explicitly prohibited, including indirect costs, food and beverage expenses, foreign travel, and any costs incurred outside the grant period. All funds must be used to supplement rather than replace existing resources. Eligibility is limited to Texas public lower-division institutions of higher education, including public junior colleges, public state colleges, and public technical institutes. Applicants must submit a single application proposing a pathway in a high-demand field, supported by evidence of employer involvement and regional workforce needs. The application must include a comprehensive project work plan, budget, evaluation framework, and documentation of institutional capacity and partnerships. Applications are submitted through the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s online Grants Management System and must be complete at the time of submission, including all required certifications and attachments. Applications are evaluated on a competitive basis using criteria that assess the quality of the proposed pathway, alignment with labor market demand, strength of the work plan, institutional capacity, and appropriateness of the selected technical assistance provider. Additional consideration is given to institutional size and geographic distribution to ensure equitable allocation across regions. Awards are made in rank order until available funding is exhausted, with an emphasis on selecting at least one institution from each size category. The application timeline begins with the release of the request for applications in late April, followed by an informational webinar and a deadline for inquiries in late May. The final application deadline is May 29, 2026, with notifications expected in June 2026. The grant period begins in July 2026 and extends through October 7, 2027, lasting approximately fifteen months. During this period, grantees must submit interim and final reports documenting progress, expenditures, and outcomes. The program is not explicitly described as recurring, but future implementation funding may be available for successful planning projects. All inquiries regarding the grant must be directed to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board via the designated program email address. The agency provides formal responses to applicant questions and may issue addenda to clarify requirements. Overall, the grant is designed to strengthen institutional planning capacity and lay the groundwork for scalable workforce education pathways that respond to evolving economic demands across Texas.

Focus on selecting a high demand field supported by labor market data and employer input; ensure strong technical assistance provider experience; clearly articulate pathway design with measurable outcomes; align budget strictly with allowable costs