Public Schools partnered with A+ to build capacity
Educators have strengthened skills & knowledge through A+ programs
Students served by stronger teachers & school leaders
OUR MISSION
Texas A+ Challenge is an Education Initiative of CHILDREN AT RISK, dedicated to educators to ensure every child in Texas receives an equitable and high-quality education.
At Texas A+, we empower educators by providing a supportive and focused environment to identify strengths and areas for growth. Together, we co-create measurable goals, and develop strategic action plans to guide participants toward success.
Our approach combines proven instructional and leadership coaching practices with comprehensive professional development, planning, and preparation.
We are committed to fostering excellence in education through personalized one-on-one and collaborative approach.
Our WORK
On Campus
On-site coaching, professional learning, & more.
Customized support for real academic growth.
Professional Learning
Professional learning workshops that help teachers, coaches & specialists drive gains through research-supported best practices.
TESTIMONIALS
“My A+ coaches are my trusted source for highly-knowledgeable and relevant PD and coaching that I would not be able to provide otherwise and the sole instructional leader on my campus. They understand my vision, and they work well with my teachers, some of whom they have been supporting for multiple years.“
– Samyra Rogers, Principal
“You’ve NEVER experienced effective coaching from a third party until you’ve worked with A+ Challenge. Everyone grows with the coaching and is empowered to succeed after the coaching concludes. The A+ relationship endures – not because the growth is only possible when the coaching is happening, but because teachers have grown to a new place and seek out answers/collaborations to advocate for themselves in the areas they are now able to identify for their students with the content/curriculum.”
-Erin Chavez, Principal
“This coaching experience has made me feel cared for and supported to be able to access and implement new knowledge, participate in deep reflection and learning, and to be comfortable taking risks as a new instructional coach.”
-Raymond Mason, Instructional Specialist
CONTACT TEXAS A+ CHALLENGE
Our Latest Pk-12 EDUCATION Research & Resources
2024 Annual Report
Dear Friends and Advocates, At CHILDREN AT RISK, we believe that every child deserves a fair shot at success—and we know that it takes all of us to make that happen. Whether you’re a policymaker, educator, donor, volunteer, or advocate, your partnership has helped...
Press Conference: Changes at U.S. Department of Education Impact Support for Emergent Bilingual Students
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Advocating in Support of SB 570 & SB 991
Mandi Kimball, Chief Government Affairs Officer with CHILDREN AT RISK, testifies in support of SB 570 & SB 991 during the March 25, 2025 hearing of the Texas Senate Committee on Education K-16. My name is Mandi Kimball, Vice President of Children at Risk, and I am...
2023-2024 Houston School Rankings
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2023-2024 North Texas School Rankings
CHILDREN AT RISK Releases 2023-2024 Annual Texas School Rankings DALLAS, TX (February 5, 2025) – Over the past 20 years, CHILDREN AT RISK has ranked Texas public schools to help parents, educators, and community members better understand how their local schools are...
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Fall 2024 | Early Childhood Education Texas Tour
CHILDREN AT RISK's Early Childhood Texas Tour is coming to a city near you, and you won’t want to miss it. C@R is hitting the road with 12 in-person stops across the state, bringing together child care providers, community leaders, and anyone passionate about...
2024 C@R Special Events
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2023 Annual Report
It is with immense pride and joy that we announce the start of a significant milestone: the 35th Anniversary of CHILDREN AT RISK. For over three decades, our organization has been at the forefront of advocating for the well-being and rights of vulnerable children,...
2022-2023 CHILDREN AT RISK’s Annual School Rankings
For the past nineteen years, CHILDREN AT RISK (C@R) has ranked and graded Texas public schools to help parents, educators, and community members better understand how their local schools are performing. By providing this information to parents and educators, C@R hopes...
2024 C@R Learning Events
Learning Eventsconvening for change CHILDREN AT RISK is committed to hosting free events that engage the public and help them drive change for children. We aim to share research, unpack pressing policy issues, and highlight diverse community perspectives from across...
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The Latino population represents the largest and fastest growing minority group in the United States. Data suggests that schools in the United States now enroll more than twice as many Latino students as they did in 1995, and it that by the end of 2030, Latino...