Region One ESC Awarded $175,000 National Grant to Empower Rural School Collaboratives

Edinburg, Texas – Region One Education Service Center (Region One) has been awarded a three-year, $175,000 Civic Hub grant from the Trust for Civic Life, a national organization dedicated to supporting rural communities. Announced on September 16, 2025, the funding will support travel, materials, and resources needed to strengthen Region One’s Rural School Collaboratives, which provide expanded college and career pathways for students in South Texas’s rural areas.

These collaboratives enable students to participate in Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs not offered on their home campuses by attending specialized courses in neighboring school districts within the network.

“Each of our collaboratives shows what’s possible when rural school systems work together,” said Dr. José A. Garza, Region One ESC Senior Administrator for School Partnerships. “We’re creating real opportunities for students to access high-wage, in-demand careers.”

Region One ESC, in partnership with twelve rural school districts, has been officially designated as a Rural Pathway Excellence Partnership (R-PEP) by the Texas Education Agency. This designation allows small, rural districts to work together across district lines to offer shared postsecondary pathways that connect students to college credit, industry credentials and career opportunities.

Of the 10 R-PEP collaboratives currently active across Texas, four are coordinated by Region One ESC and its rural partners. These collaboratives meet rigorous state standards and align their efforts with higher education institutions andworkforce partners to create high-quality opportunities for rural students.

“When people come together to tackle the issues right in front of them—like building a playground, keeping a library open, or creating new jobs after a factory closes—they see firsthand what’s possible when everyone pitches in,” said Charlie Brown, Executive Director of the Trust for Civic Life. “Those local experiences make communities better, build trust, and prepare people to face bigger challenges together.”

With the support of this funding, Region One ESC will continue expanding career readiness initiatives in rural communities, helping ensure all students—regardless of geography—have access to meaningful, future-ready opportunities.

To learn more about Region One ESC’s collaboratives, visit: www.esc1.net/rpep.