6. Recommendation 20260617-006: Advancing Economic Mobility through retaining and strengthening Student, Family, and Workforce Development Supports — original pdf

Recommendation

. RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Economic Prosperity Commission Recommendation Number: 20260617-006: Advancing Economic Mobility Through retaining and strengthening Student, Family, and Workforce Development Supports WHEREAS, the Economic Prosperity Commission is charged with advising governing bodies on policies that foster economic development and long term job creation, poverty reduction, future workforce readiness, and long-term financial stability for all residents; and WHEREAS: According to the 2024 AISD Annual Report, 50.2% of students are economically disadvantaged which translates to an estimated 34,500 Austin-area youth and students as being economically vulnerable. While the broader population of approximately 180,000 Austin residents under age 18 benefit from a stronger student-support and youth workforce-development system. WHEREAS, students and families face barriers to academic success including financial instability, food insecurity, limited access to mental health resources, and housing insecurity; directly negatively impacting the ability for students to fill open jobs and their economic earning potential WHEREAS, school-based and community-based organizations serve as a critical economic stabilizer that help students address these barriers, remain connected to school, graduate, and prepare for employment career pathways, postsecondary education, and support students long- term economic mobility. WHEREAS, independent economic research demonstrates that access to integrated student support models, including campus-based case management, significantly boosts a student's lifetime earnings and reduces long-term reliance on public assistance programs. In addition, these programs are also critical in preventing youth from entering the juvenile justice system, taken together these programs generate a measurable, positive return on public investment. WHEREAS, organizations such as Communities In Schools of Central Texas and other qualified nonprofit, school-based, and community-based partners CIS of Central Texas consistently achieves proven outcomes, affecting 20,000+ students across 50+ schools in the City of Austin, including a 99% school retention rate and a 99.3% graduation rate among case-managed seniors, directly supplying the regional economy with a qualified, high-school-educated workforce; and include eligible educational support providers such as CIS. WHEREAS, Community in Schools and other qualified nonprofit, school-based, and community- based partners CIS of Central Texas increases attendance of students, adding over 22,000 days compared to their baseline grading period; providing increased state funding valued up to $1.1 million to the Austin Independent School District through increased attendance and retention of students. . WHEREAS, school closures have resulted in academic disruptions to students and their families. These disruptions are occurring simultaneously to current budgetary pressures on local school districts and municipal budgets threaten the continuity of these essential on-campus support systems, putting vulnerable student populations at risk of academic disconnection. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY COMMISSION: SECTION 1. The Commission formally affirms that funding for student support services, family stabilization, college and career readiness, academic persistence, and youth workforce development for current and future jobs, are critical components of the City's broader economic prosperity strategy and workforce pipeline. SECTION 2. The Commission strongly recommends the continued and expanded investment in qualified school-based and community-based organizations that support student stability, academic persistence, family stabilization, college and career readiness, and youth workforce development, including but not limited to Communities In Schools of Central Texas and other eligible educational support providers. SECTION 3. The Commission recommends that funding decisions prioritize programs and organizations that demonstrate alignment with the City's economic mobility, poverty reduction, workforce development, and student success goals, including measurable outcomes related to attendance, educational attainment, postsecondary readiness, employment readiness, family stability, youth well-being, and access to supportive and wraparound services. SECTION 4. The Commission urges local municipal leaders to collaborate with regional school districts and philanthropic partners to explore and establish sustainable, multi-year funding mechanisms that protect these essential student support interventions from annual budget volatility. Date of Approval: June 17, 2026 Motioned By: Commissioner Zapata Seconded By: Commissioner Joshi Vote: 8-0 For: Chair Gonzales, Vice Chair Randall, Commissioner Joshi, Commissioner Nahas, Commissioner Pleuthner, Commissioner Roberts, Commissioner Valdez Sanchez, Commissioner Zapata. Against: None. Abstain: None. Off the dais: None. Absent: Commissioner Rashed and Commissioner Tomaszewski Attest: Chelsea Pfeifer, Staff Liaison