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Overview

This letter announces the availability of the Rural Pathway Excellence Partnership (R-PEP) Planning and Expansion Grant, to be posted on May 15, 2026, with awards beginning in August 2026. The application will be available on the

Background

The Rural Pathway Excellence Partnerships (R-PEP) program was established through House Bill (HB) 2209, 88th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, and is codified in Texas Education Code (TEC), §§29.912 and 48.118. The program is designed to incentivize independent school districts with fewer than 1,600 students to collaborate regionally to expand access to high quality, high demand college and career pathways that individual districts may not be able to offer independently. Through partnerships among local education agencies (LEAs), institutions of higher education, employers, industry partners, and community organizations, R-PEPs deliver career preparation opportunities that support student success after graduation.

R-PEP Grant Overview

The R-PEP Planning and Expansion Grants provide targeted funding to support the development, launch, and growth of Rural Pathway Excellence Partnerships. Grant activities are designed to support districts in meeting R-PEP Designation requirements, including conducting a Regional Labor Market Analysis, developing or refining organizational structures, and developing performance agreements between participating districts and the R-PEP Coordinating Entity. Grant funds may be used for activities aligned to the R-PEP model, including partnership planning, governance development, employer and postsecondary engagement, and the implementation or expansion of shared college and career pathways. Additional requirements related to partnership governance, fiscal responsibility, and coordinating entity designation are detailed in the official Program Guidelines.

Applicants are expected to demonstrate:

• Regional collaboration among all participating partners
• Commitment to programmatic alignment with regional labor market demand
• Evidence of foundations for rigorous, high-wage, high-demand college and career pathways
• Readiness to fully implement the R-PEP model

Grant Types

Approximately $2,600,000 is available for this grant program, and it is anticipated that up to 15 grants will be awarded.

The R-PEP grant program includes two grant track options:

• R-PEP Planning Grants
  • Intended to support the establishment of new R-PEPs
  • Awarded to Coordinating Entities or partnerships of 2 or more eligible school districts that are seeking to form a new R-PEP
  • Up to $200,000 per award
     
• R-PEP Expansion Grants
  • Intended to support expansion through the addition of new pathways, new participating districts, or both
  • Awarded to currently designated R-PEPs in good standing
  • Up to $80,000 per award

Specific eligibility requirements, allowable activities, fiscal requirements, and cost limitations for each grant type are detailed in the Program Guidelines.

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants include:

1. Organizations that meet the requirements to be an R-PEP Coordinating Entity, defined by TEC, §12.101(a);
   1. an institution of higher education or a private or independent institution of higher education, as defined under Section 61.003;
   2. an organization that is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3), Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. Section 501(c)(3)); or
      a governmental entity.
2. A partnership of 2 or more eligible school districts (Planning Grants only).
3. Expansion Grants are awarded only to currently designated R-PEPs in good standing.

Coordinating Entities or partnerships of districts must meet all eligibility requirements outlined in the Program Guidelines and apply on behalf of the R-PEP partnership.

Webinars and Additional Information

Â鶹ԭ´´ will host informational webinars for prospective applicants on the following dates: 

Registration links, presentation materials, and additional grant resources will be posted on the R-PEP website.  

Future R-PEP Planning and Expansion Grants will be available through the LASO unified grant application.

For more information, contact R-PEP@tea.texas.gov.