A State of Disconnection

C@R Hosts Legislative Briefing to address challenges in public education and youth disconnection

On Friday, November 15th, CHILDREN AT RISK hosted a Legislative Briefing at the Texas Capitol to address two critical challenges facing Texas youth: Youth Disengagement (specifically Opportunity Youth & Young Adults or OYYA) and Chronic Absenteeism. This engaging discussion brought together policymakers, education leaders, and advocates to examine the alarming patterns of disconnection from education and economic opportunity.

The data presented during the briefing painted a stark picture. Over 936,000 Texas students (20%) were chronically absent during the 2022-2023 school year, and 13.1% of Texans aged 16-24 are neither in school nor working. These numbers highlight the urgent need for early intervention and strategies to re-engage youth, ensuring they have access to education and workforce opportunities.

Key Highlights from the Briefing

The event began with a welcome from Mandi Kimball of CHILDREN AT RISK, followed by a data-driven presentation from Caroline Roberts that laid the foundation for the day’s discussions.

Attendees then heard from two expert panels:

Opportunity Youth & Young Adults Panel:

• Dr. David Troutman, Deputy Commissioner of Academic Affairs, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
• Rebecca Flores, Education Program Administrator, City of San Antonio
• Dr. Hannah Gourgey, Senior Fellow at the Aspen Institute’s Opportunity Youth Forum

Chronic Absenteeism Panel:

• Jonathan Feinstein, State Director for EdTrust
• Jason Sabo, Founder of Frontera Strategy

Panelists examined the root causes of chronic absenteeism, including mental health challenges and the disproportionate impact on marginalized communities. They shared insights on effective interventions, innovative uses of data for real-time support, and potential legislative changes to address absenteeism at scale.

The briefing emphasized actionable solutions for the Texas Legislature to consider in the upcoming 89th Legislative Session. Experts shared policy recommendations to reduce absenteeism and reengage disconnected youth, aiming to create pathways to success that benefit both individuals and communities.

CHILDREN AT RISK extends its gratitude to Senator Paul Bettencourt for sponsoring this impactful event, and to our partners for joining us!