The new grants mark the latest milestone in a more than decade-long collaboration between Educate Texas and the TI Foundation. The long-time collaboration has focused on improving teacher effectiveness and student learning outcomes in STEM, starting in 2012 with a STEM district in Lancaster ISD in southern Dallas County, followed by STEM districts in DeSoto and Cedar Hill ISDs in 2020. The collaboration has now expanded to implement a STEM district in Denison ISD and the use of an artificial intelligence (AI) tool aimed at teacher effectiveness in Dallas ISD middle school classrooms. Programs funded from the new grants are expected to impact more than 20,000 students across multiple grade levels, preparing them for a workforce that requires STEM skills.
STEM district funding
Funding will help Lancaster, DeSoto, and Denison ISDs expand access to STEM-focused college and career pathways, while also providing students with essential STEM skills, including critical thinking, collaboration, communications, and design-based problem-solving. Funding will also support teacher development and retention through coaching and mentoring; instructional and campus leaders; and supportive principals.
STEM district grants highlights include:
- Denison ISD, a first-time grant recipient, will align STEM instruction with regional economic growth and career opportunities. The district will use the funding to expand advanced STEM coursework and extracurricular programs for its 5,000 students, enhance Advanced Placement® and dual credit pathways, and offer comprehensive teacher training. This investment comes at a time of significant growth in the City of Denison, where shifts in population and a rapidly expanding labor market are reshaping the community and its future workforce needs.
- DeSoto ISD will deepen STEM programming across all grade levels. Prior grants from the TI Foundation supported improvements in Algebra 1 performance by DeSoto ISD students, increasing to 32% from 26% in 2023 (measured by the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness), as well as a 17% jump in math readiness by its Black students (measured by the Texas Success Initiative Assessment). This new, two-year grant aims to address teacher retention and instructional capacity and increase student extracurricular opportunities, including clubs, camps, and student organizations.
- Lancaster ISD, which received its first TI Foundation STEM grant in 2012, will continue its districtwide “STEM for All” model. Previous grants supported a 21% increase in math scores and a 16% increase in science scores among the district’s Black students, along with a 15-point graduation rate increase—the largest in Dallas County. The new grant funding will support a tiered STEM professional learning model, equip campuses with maker spaces, and continue the district’s commitment to problem-based learning aligned with design thinking principles.
Artificial Intelligence in the Classroom
Dallas ISD will launch an innovative AI-powered tool for middle school math teachers—designed to improve instruction and student outcomes through real-time feedback on teaching practices. The three-year investment will fund AI licenses, teacher training, and classroom materials across up to 43 campuses. The program aims to strengthen teacher self-reflection, increase retention, and boost student math performance for grades 6–8.
Leadership development
Additionally, a grant was made to continue a superintendent professional development program that was launched by Educate Texas in 2024 through a grant from the TI Foundation. Dr. Michael McFarland, who was Lancaster’s superintendent when the TI Foundation first began working with that district in 2012, will continue to engage in collaborative learning with superintendents in Lancaster, DeSoto and Cedar Hill — the three current STEM districts that have been supported by the TI Foundation – and will add the new STEM district in Denison. The program will continue to focus on coaching district teams in growth mindsets and visionary leadership; how to engage with school boards, partners and communities; and developing district cultures that include motivational strategies and wraparound support for students and teachers.
“This investment reflects a continued commitment to ensure that more Texas students—especially those in historically underserved communities—have access to high-quality STEM experiences that set them on a path to success,” said Kerri Briggs, Ph.D., Executive Director of CFT’s Educate Texas. “We’re honored to continue our longtime partnership with the TI Foundation and local districts to make this vision a reality.”
Educate Texas will manage the grant implementation with each district by providing technical assistance, educator coaching, and real-world learning coordination.
“These comprehensive grants reflect the TI Foundation’s commitment to expanding access to high-quality STEM education, particularly for low-income students, and to ensure teachers have the support and tools they need to be effective in their classrooms,” said Andy Smith, executive director of the TI Foundation. “By investing in teacher training, curriculum development, and innovative technologies, the TI Foundation funding will help more students prepare for future STEM careers and improve overall academic achievement.”
