Note From The CEO
Dear Friend,
As 2024 comes to a close, we reflect on the progress made this year to ensure every student in Houston has access to a high-quality public education. Building on this momentum, 2025 will bring renewed focus and expanded efforts to empower families, support educators, and shape policies that drive student success—and we invite you to join us in this movement.
Parents are the foundation of this work, and we’re excited to kick off the inaugural cohort of our Houston Parent Action Network (PAN) Parent Advocacy Institute in 2025. This 16-week paid leadership program equips parents and caregivers with the skills to advocate for their children and communities effectively. Apply now if you’d like to participate or forward this opportunity to someone you know.
We’re also exploring what pre-K-12 experiences lead to postsecondary success. Early next year, we’ll release original research that examines critical factors that influence college degree attainment, postsecondary completion, and living-wage careers. You can preview some of our initial findings in By the Numbers and join the conversation at the Postsecondary Pathways Conference in January, which we’re proud to cohost with BridgeYear and UpSkill Houston.
With the 89th Texas Legislative Session beginning next month, we’re ramping up our efforts to ensure education remains a top priority. To keep you informed, we’re launching In Session, a special edition newsletter delivering real-time updates on education policies. You can sign up today to stay engaged. Don’t miss our webinar recap about Good Reason Houston’s legislative priorities in Closer Look.
As we reflect on the first half of the school year, we know that no progress could be possible without our teachers. This holiday season, we were thrilled to celebrate over 500 educators who poured their hearts into their work. We look forward to you joining us for opportunities to celebrate and support teachers in 2025. Explore how you can help in Houston Education Spotlight.
Let’s make 2025 a year of bold action and progress for Houston’s students. Happy holidays and happy new year—together, we can create the future every child deserves.
CLOSER LOOK
Stay Connected: The 89th Texas Legislative Session
The 89th Texas Legislative Session is just around the corner, and Good Reason Houston is committed to keeping you informed and engaged. To provide a comprehensive preview of what’s to come, we recently hosted a live webinar led by our Director of Government Relations, Trista Bishop-Watt. This discussion offered valuable insights into key education policies expected to shape the session.
Attendees explored Houston-specific challenges, learned about statewide priorities, and gained actionable solutions that can make a real impact in public education. If you missed it, you can watch the recording below to catch up on the critical takeaways.
BY THE NUMBERS
Driving Postsecondary Success and Living-Wage Attainment
his year, Good Reason Houston launched a multi-phase research initiative to uncover the key factors that help Houston-area students earn credentials after high school and find careers that pay a living wage. The first phase of this research, released earlier this year, highlighted trends and challenges in postsecondary pathways—read the full report here.
Building on these insights, the next phase of research explores how rigorous academics and key pre-K-12 milestones shape postsecondary outcomes. These findings offer actionable strategies for schools, families, and community leaders to ensure more graduates achieve postsecondary success.
Key Findings from Good Reason Houston’s Postsecondary Research
- Too few graduates attain postsecondary credentials.
- Only 27% of 2017 high school graduates in the Houston region earned a postsecondary credential within six years. This proportion has remained unchanged since 2012.
- Postsecondary credentials are critical for earning a living wage.
- Only 20% of graduates overall had a job that paid enough to live on, but students with a bachelor’s degree were nearly 4 times more likely to earn a living wage than those without any extra training or education. Those with professional certifications were 3 times more likely to earn a living wage. But even for people with a bachelor’s degree, only about half were making a living wage six years after finishing high school.
- Rigorous academic experiences significantly boost credential attainment and earning potential.
- Students who took five or more advanced courses in high school were 22% more likely to attain postsecondary credentials. Additional factors like meeting STAAR standards on 8th grade reading and taking Algebra 1 in 8th grade also made a difference, but the best results came when students combined these with taking advanced classes in high school, speaking to the value of combining rigorous academic experiences to long-term success.
Get a first look at the postsecondary report coming in January by signing up for our Houston ConnectED newsletter today.
Good Reason Houston is proud to cohost the Postsecondary Pathways Conference with BridgeYear and UpSkill Houston on January 30. This event will bring together education and workforce leaders to strategize on building stronger pipelines between schools and career readiness.
HOUSTON EDUCATION SPOTLIGHT
Celebrating Educators: Houston Loves Teachers
This year, Good Reason Houston’s Houston Loves Teachers initiative made a powerful impact, celebrating and supporting the incredible educators who shape the future of our city. Through events, resources, and recognition programs, we’ve reached over 25,000 educators across the Houston region and shared meaningful stories of their dedication and excellence.
As we look ahead to 2025, we’re excited to continue honoring and empowering educators—and you can help! Here are a few ways to take action in the new year:
- Sign-up your company to volunteer —whether it’s hosting a party or signing thank-you cards for teachers
- Support our initiatives to ensure teachers feel valued and celebrated.
- Spread the love by sharing Houston Loves Teachers with a teacher you know, and encourage them to sign up at https://houstonlovesteachers.org/ to explore events, opportunities, and resources just for them.
- Shine a spotlight on a game-changing educator by nominating them to be recognized for their outstanding work.
- Share how a teacher impacted your life for a chance to be featured on Houston Loves Teachers’ social media. Send your story to info@houstonlovesteachers.org.
Together, we can make 2025 a year of appreciation and impact for the educators who inspire Houston’s future.
