The mission of the Institute for Public School Initiatives (IPSI) is to improve the quality of academic outcomes for public education in Texas by building awareness and alignment between P-12 and higher education. IPSI’s P-16 initiatives include innovative approaches and tools for students, teachers, and administrators to improve student college readiness, access and success.
The Institute for Public School Initiatives (IPSI), created in 2004, focuses on improving student performance from preschool through high school via strategic partnerships with UT institutions, community colleges, school districts and state agencies. Funding for IPSI is made possible through generous contributions from private foundations and public agencies not directly affiliated with the UT System. With $56 million in grant funds last year, IPSI launched a number of programs preparing students to enter and move through the educational pipeline with the appropriate pre-requisite skills and knowledge, regardless of race, socioeconomic status, or school location. IPSI focuses on the most powerful factors that influence access to high-quality instruction such as educator quality, new program models, early college preparation, and financial support for college.
IPSI works across the 15 UT institutions to identify and develop state of the science theories, practices, and tools. In partnerships with public education these innovations are tested through real world application. All program efforts are thoroughly evaluated through rigorous data collection and efficacy analysis. IPSI invests only in reforms that are truly scaleable with the highest impact on student and educator performance. Through IPSI, the UT System demonstrates its commitment to improving public education by dedicating more than 12 percent of the UT System Administration’s work force to pre-K through 16 initiatives.
