Educate Texas, an initiative of the Communities Foundation of Texas, has announced investments totaling more than $4 million from the Texas Instruments Foundation in support of STEM education in the southern Dallas County independent school districts of Cedar Hill, DeSoto, and Lancaster.

The funding includes $1.015 million over three years to the Lancaster Independent School District in support of teacher and principal development in STEM reading and writing, social and emotional support related to the COVID-19 pandemic, dual-language teaching, and instructional training for faculty and parents. For nearly a decade, Educate Texas and the TI Foundation have partnered to embed STEM teaching, thinking, and problem-solving skills in classrooms across the district. The remaining $3.02 million will be used to develop STEM districts in the Cedar Hill and DeSoto ISDs, including professional development support for teachers and principals the development of curricula grounded in STEM-based concepts, and college and STEM career prep for students. 

"When we began to work with the TI Foundation and Lancaster ISD in 2012 to create a STEM district, we expected the successes and outcomes there to serve as a rigorous STEM learning and teaching model that could be scaled to other Texas school districts," said George Tang, managing director of Educate Texas. "We're thrilled that the original expectation is now being realized with renewed efforts in Lancaster ISD, and with expanded support to Cedar Hill and Desoto ISDs. This opportunity allows us to help build thriving communities — extending our impact to the lives of thousands more students — and ultimately inspire and prepare them for great futures."