A Letter to Our Stakeholders: Building the Future of Education in Texas
With nearly 10 percent of U.S. students living in Texas, our state plays a pivotal role in shaping the nation’s future. We are not just educating our own children but also building the foundation for the next generation of the country’s workforce. This is a profound responsibility and an opportunity to reimagine how education can better serve every unique student.
At The Miles Foundation, our mission has always been rooted in one simple goal: to help children succeed in learning and in life. Whether we are partnering with business leaders around the country to implement impactful child care and family-friendly policies, connecting parents and caregivers in Tarrant County with the resources they need to thrive, or lifting up bright spot models in education – driving meaningful change in our communities is at the forefront.
As we enter into the second half of the year, we see an opportunity to inform, engage, and support families and providers in Tarrant County and across the state to prepare for the new Education Savings Account program coming to Texas in the 2026-2027 school year. This program could have a significant impact on students to pursue educational options that have previously been out of reach.
Why Texas Needs Education Innovation
The traditional one-size-fits-all school model no longer addresses the needs of Texas’ 6 million students. Public schools currently serve the majority of students, but the glaring reality is that what we have been doing for decades is not working for far too many children. As the Go Beyond Grades campaign has effectively communicated, less than 50 percent of Texas students are reading at grade level.
We have the tools, technology, and human resources to deliver personalized education at scale, but it will take bold, innovative approaches to make this a reality. That’s why The Miles Foundation is championing an education ecosystem in Fort Worth and across Texas that is made up of a dynamic network of parents, teachers, leaders, and entrepreneurs daring to rethink what education can look like. Innovative education models aren’t just theoretical; their success in Fort Worth is proof that progress is possible when we take a student-centric approach, think creatively, and collectively focus on meeting the needs of every child.
Empowering Families with Education Savings Accounts (ESAs)
We believe parents and teachers are the two biggest influences on a child’s success. Any effective education strategy has to support these groups with the resources they need to make personalized learning possible. Now, with state-funded Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), we have a program that provides families with access to funds they can use to tailor their child’s learning and education approach. It can take many forms, such as enrolling in a private school or microschool, taking specialty classes at a charter or public school, accessing specialized tutoring, or enlisting homeschool supports.
Fundamentally, ESAs help democratize education. They remove financial barriers that have historically limited families’ options, ensuring that every parent, regardless of socioeconomic status, has the opportunity to choose the best education model for their child. For educators, ESAs pave the way for smaller class sizes and more customized educational approaches, where students and teachers have the autonomy to design a learning program and system that works for them.
This is about expanding options and ensuring every family has access to educational approaches that work for their children. Every child deserves the opportunity to learn in an environment tailored to their needs, and ESAs are one solution to make that possible. It puts students first, ensuring access to the tools and pathways necessary for their success.
The Path Forward for Texas Education
The Miles Foundation’s focus is clear: We will aim to not only continue supporting the Fort Worth education ecosystem but expand its reach and impact across Texas. This means advocating for approaches that prioritize students; supporting families, educators, and providers to be able to take advantage of new opportunities under the new ESA program; and ensuring Texas is a leader in education. Together with each of our partners that we have been fortunate enough to link arms with over the last decade, we hope to unlock the full potential of each student and elevate our state to number one in the nation for educational achievement and student success.
Today, I invite you to join in this conversation. You may have seen that I’ve already started having these discussions on my LinkedIn profile. We also launched a website that is helping to lift up successful education models and provide up-to-date information to families and providers at Best Place for Students™ https://bestplace4students.com/.
I would welcome your engagement, feedback, questions and insights related to the opportunity ahead and the education approaches that you have seen that are working to build a brighter future for students and families. Together, and with the great assets that we have in our community and our state, I really believe we can create the education system of the future – one that meets the personalized needs of today’s students while preparing them for the workforce of tomorrow.
Thank you for all that you do to ensure every child in our community has the foundation they need to succeed in school and in life. I am privileged to be able to work alongside you.
Best,
Grant Coates
