The Austin Chamber convened a briefing on September 22 for key staff of the Governor, Lt. Governor, key education committee and Central Texas delegation members. The Chamber discussed the areas where we need help from the Legislature and solicited feedback on how to improve Central Texas outcomes.

Julian Rivera, partner at Husch Blackwell and Chamber Education Council member, laid out the DTC70 Central Texas Business and Education Partnership, calling it “revolutionary.” Doug Killian, superintendent of Hutto ISD and multi-year winner of the Chamber’s Superintendent of the Year, validated the region’s need to increase direct college enrollment to help improve opportunity for our young people and to drive regional prosperity.

Here were some staff questions:

• Q: How does the DTC70 match up to the state Closing the Gaps effort?

A: DTC70 is the local response to the state challenge led by Higher Education Commissioner Raymund Paredes and THECB Vice Chair, former Chamber Chair Bobby Jenkins and CEO of ABC Home & Commercial Services.

• Q: DTC70 discusses college enrollment curriculum as early as 5th grade?

A: Yes. The business and education community are working on this curriculum currently. Email Gilbert Zavala for more information.

• Q: How much would it cost to provide the National Student Clearinghouse data tracking all Texas high school graduates?

A: $210,00-250,000

• Q: How does this dovetail with the work of TWC, THECB and TEA?

A: Those efforts are led by very capable leaders. They are, however, underresourced (i.e. TWC has 2 people statewide to education about real-time changes to the labor market) and do not have subject matter expertise on creating consumable data. This is a great area for Governor leadership.

This was a real success thanks to Gilbert Zavala and Andrew Feller, for building and sustaining the education partnerships and, specifically, the compelling content, presentation materials and talking points. Thanks also to Dana Harris for building a room with the key staff.

Contributed by Austin Chamber Senior Vice President Drew Scheberle.