Initiatives

Integrated with TXPOST’s work to convene, educate, and advocate, TXPOST leads and engages with national and statewide initiatives to improve the quality and increase the availability of OST programs for kids across Texas.

STEM

Out of school time spaces offer young people immersive experiences in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) that go beyond what’s possible in a classroom and prepare them for the future of work. Through enriching, hands-on STEM activities, youth build essential skills, explore STEM careers, and develop a STEM identity. In partnership with STEM Next, TXPOST helps OST providers build their capacity and improve program quality through STEM programming and career-connected learning. TXPOST offers comprehensive professional development opportunities, amplifies training and resources from STEM Next and other key partners, and brokers connections with leading STEM industries and companies across Texas.

Youth Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is more than starting a business; it’s a mindset and skillset that are critical to student success, both in and out of the classroom. Youth entrepreneurship (YE) offers hands-on learning opportunities that help develop key workforce and social-emotional skills, which are essential for youth development, learning recovery, and postsecondary pathways. With support from VentureLab and Young Entrepreneur Institute, TXPOST amplifies YE for program capacity building and quality improvement, increasing youth voice and family engagement, developing community and corporate partnerships, and integrating high-quality programming throughout our Texas OST ecosystem.

Service Learning

Service learning is a process that engages young people in identifying community issues—especially problems they care about—and taking action to solve them. Through service learning, young people identify community concerns, learning more about the issue, brainstorm the best way to solve it, and take action. With support from the National Youth Leadership Council, TXPOST amplifies service learning for program capacity building and quality improvement, increasing youth voice and community engagement, and integrating high-quality programming throughout our Texas OST ecosystem.

Expanded Learning Opportunities Council

In the 83rd Texas Legislative Session, TXPOST worked to pass Senate Bill 503, which established an Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELO) Council. TXPOST continues to support the Council by providing research, leveraging network connections, and amplifying experiences from the field to aid Council members in the development of their recommendations.

The ELO Council is charged with:

Analyzing current research on best practices and other issues related to Expanded Learning Opportunities;
Analyzing the availability of, and unmet needs for, state and local Expanded Learning Opportunities;
Analyzing opportunities to create incentives for employers and businesses to support Expanded Learning Opportunities;
Analyzing opportunities to maximize charitable support for public and private partnerships to bolster Expanded Learning Opportunities; and
Analyzing opportunities to promote science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in Expanded Learning Opportunities.