Steady State Impact

Dr. Raphael A. Baranco Elementary saw a 9-point increase in K-3 reading benchmarks and a 9x improvement in K-5 math and J.W. Faulk Elementary increased K-3 reading benchmarks by 14% while reducing students well below benchmark by 15%, with a 14x gain in K-5 math proficiency since AUGUST 2024. The Accelerating Campus Excellence (ACE) model is having an incredible impact in Lafayette, Louisiana, as the Lafayette Parish School System is the 2nd district in the state, joining Evangeline Parish to implement this model.? ? Hear of the impact firsthand through the lens of two incredibly effective teachers and twin sisters, Morgan and Taylor Mercado.? ? ACE transforms schools by ensuring every educator is proven effective while fostering a culture of high expectations for students and staff, expanding enrichment and whole child support opportunities, and equipping students with the skills to navigate challenges and succeed. ? The impact is already clear: ???????????Dr. Raphael A. Baranco Elementary saw a 9-point increase in K-3 reading benchmarks and a 9x improvement in K-5 math. ???????????J.W. Faulk Elementary increased K-3 reading benchmarks by 14% while reducing students well below benchmark by 15%, with a 14x gain in K-5 math proficiency. You can read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/dvnu88s4 The ACE model shows what we all should know to be true: every child, regardless of circumstance, can succeed if the right adults are in front of them and systems are in place to foster their learning and development. ? We are grateful for our partners at the PUGH FAMILY FOUNDATION, whose commitment to education is helping drive meaningful change. We are thrilled to be growing this impact throughout Louisiana and beyond. ? Watch and read more about this inspiring program: https://lnkd.in/dRw9iSKd

Are you or someone in your network a West Texas expert passionate about connecting education to careers? Apply to be the Permian Basin Innovation Zone (PBIZ) Director! This role leads efforts to bridge education and workforce opportunities, creating brighter futures for students across PBIZ districts.?Steady State Impact is proud to partner with the PBIZ and can’t wait to see who will join us in this impactful work.

Big day in southeastern New Mexico! Since the fall, Steady State Impact has had the honor of collaborating with three incredible school districts to develop innovative solutions for Career and Technical Education (CTE) in rural southeastern New Mexico. Today, we are excited to celebrate a major milestone: the official naming of this initiative as The Valley Rural Collaborative! It was inspiring to work alongside these districts as we analyzed their community's unique labor market data, collected to guide this effort. This data will serve as a foundation for aligning education pathways with the workforce needs of Chaves County, fostering new opportunities that benefit students and strengthen the community as a whole. A heartfelt thank-you to everyone who has contributed their time, insights, and dedication to this process. Special thanks to NewSchools—your investment has made The Valley Rural Collaborative possible and continues to drive meaningful progress for students in these three districts. Additionally, we’re proud to highlight our partnership with Empower Schools as we expand this impactful work across Colorado, Indiana, New Mexico, Texas, and beyond. Together, we’re growing a national movement for innovation in rural education and workforce alignment.?

A huge congratulations to Texas WIC on 50 years of exceptional service to mothers, infants, and children across Texas! At Steady State Impact, we’re inspired by the vital role Texas WIC plays in ensuring families have access to the care, nutrition, and resources they need to thrive. We’re proud to have contributed to efforts in Texas to increase federal benefits access, including WIC, and to advance maternal health initiatives that empower mothers and support healthier outcomes for families. These experiences deepen our commitment to expanding access to essential programs and resources that make a lasting difference in the lives of families. Here’s to celebrating five decades of impact and shaping brighter futures together. Thank you, Texas WIC, for your unwavering dedication to health and well-being! https://lnkd.in/gsPAYheU

Steady State Impact is honored to serve as the project evaluator for a US DOE Teacher Quality Partnership Grant awarded to the University of Louisiana College of Education and Human Development. This “Grow Your Own Teacher Prep Pipeline,” will focus on building a sustainable, community-based pathway for future teachers in the Acadiana region of Louisiana. Key partners include: - University of Louisiana at Lafayette - South Louisiana Community College - Lafayette, Vermilion, St. Martin, St. Landry, and St. Mary Parish School Districts - The Pugh Family Foundation - PDK International - Louisiana Workforce Commission We look forward to supporting this impactful work to strengthen the teacher workforce and community connections. Read more about the initiative: https://lnkd.in/dKHWrJfa

We are thrilled to support and celebrate the latest Community Doula graduates! ?? Congratulations to the incredible individuals who completed their certification training through United Way of Tarrant County, Child Poverty Action Lab (CPAL), and Paradigm Doulas. We are proud to have partnered with UWTC on the development and implementation of this impactful grant, one of the many rewarding ways we’ve had the pleasure of working together. These dedicated doulas are already making a difference, supporting healthier moms and babies across Tarrant County.

We're thrilled to have been a part of the Louisiana Reimagine School Systems Initiative! Over the past few years, we've worked alongside Empower Schools to support seven school systems across Louisiana in implementing innovative educational practices. By leveraging local context and real-life experience, we provided community-centric solutions to help schools build stronger, more equitable educational outcomes. This initiative may have concluded, but the impact will continue to resonate in classrooms, communities, and futures across the state. We are grateful for the opportunity to be part of this transformational work.

What a fantastic day we had in Region 8 last Friday! Steady State is thrilled to collaborate with the visionary leaders from Chapel Hill ISD (Mt. Pleasant), Daingerfield-Lone Star ISD, Harts Bluff ISD, Hughes Springs ISD, Pewitt CISD, Northeast Texas Community College, Region 8 Education Service Center, and Workforce Solutions of Northeast Texas on the development of an exciting new R-PEP initiative. The Rural Pathway Excellence Partnerships (R-PEP) program is designed to help rural school districts form agreements with one another to create robust college and career pathways. R-PEP aims to enhance access to high-quality post-secondary opportunities for rural students through collaborative efforts across districts. In partnership with Empower Schools we are incredibly proud to assist these early R-PEP participants in this planning effort, working closely with these pioneering districts to drive impactful, locally-informed, high-wage career pathways for their students.

Did you know a student in certain Permian Basin ISDs will earn more than $1M than their peers over their lifetime with an Associates Degree based on tailored economic development strategies? Steady State Impact specializes in workforce innovation, with a nuanced understanding of the pivotal role that local context plays in the formulation of economic development strategies. Our organization excels in crafting innovative initiatives that are meticulously tailored to address the distinctive needs and characteristics of the communities we engage with across the nation. These initiatives are informed by comprehensive input from stakeholders residing and working within those communities. Given the vast diversity of the United States, a uniform approach is impractical; instead, it is often necessary to challenge conventional methods and explore innovative solutions. An illustrative example of our work is embodied in our rural economic development workstream, which is grounded in cross-sector collaboration among K-12 education, higher education institutions, and employers. This approach is exemplified by the Permian Basin Innovation Zone (PBIZ), a model that functions as a localized industry pipeline. This pipeline is collaboratively managed by three public school systems, a coordinating nonprofit organization, and higher education partners. The PBIZ is a testament to our commitment to rigorously prioritizing opportunities that lead to high-wage, high-demand careers post-graduation, enabling students to thrive within their communities regardless of their postsecondary trajectory. Participation in the PBIZ is projected to result in significant economic benefits for students, with those attaining a bachelor’s degree, associate’s degree, or aligned industry certification expected to realize an estimated additional lifetime earnings exceeding $1 million compared to their non-PBIZ peers in the region. Notably, within the local workforce context, an associate’s degree offers the highest earning potential among the postsecondary options. If that money were invested back into their community economy via goods and services, it would equate to $72,500 in sales tax revenue, per student. There are ~500 students in PBIZ district high schools, which would result in $36.25M in economic development over the next 45 years, per high school cohort. This is how small rural communities not only survive, but thrive! Through a framework of shared responsibility, pooled resources, and student-centered programming, the PBIZ represents a sustainable educational innovation that is well-positioned to enhance the local economy for generations to come. Steady State is proud to do this work alongside Empower Schools, CareerCraft, and Education Partnership of the Permian Basin.

Did you know a student in certain Permian Basin ISDs will earn more than $1M than their peers over their lifetime with an Associates Degree based on tailored economic development strategies? Steady State Impact specializes in workforce innovation, with a nuanced understanding of the pivotal role that local context plays in the formulation of economic development strategies. Our organization excels in crafting innovative initiatives that are meticulously tailored to address the distinctive needs and characteristics of the communities we engage with across the nation. These initiatives are informed by comprehensive input from stakeholders residing and working within those communities. Given the vast diversity of the United States, a uniform approach is impractical; instead, it is often necessary to challenge conventional methods and explore innovative solutions. An illustrative example of our work is embodied in our rural economic development workstream, which is grounded in cross-sector collaboration among K-12 education, higher education institutions, and employers. This approach is exemplified by the Permian Basin Innovation Zone (PBIZ), a model that functions as a localized industry pipeline. This pipeline is collaboratively managed by three public school systems, a coordinating nonprofit organization, and higher education partners. The PBIZ is a testament to our commitment to rigorously prioritizing opportunities that lead to high-wage, high-demand careers post-graduation, enabling students to thrive within their communities regardless of their postsecondary trajectory. Participation in the PBIZ is projected to result in significant economic benefits for students, with those attaining a bachelor’s degree, associate’s degree, or aligned industry certification expected to realize an estimated additional lifetime earnings exceeding $1 million compared to their non-PBIZ peers in the region. Notably, within the local workforce context, an associate’s degree offers the highest earning potential among the postsecondary options. If that money were invested back into their community economy via goods and services, it would equate to $72,500 in sales tax revenue, per student. There are ~500 students in PBIZ district high schools, which would result in $36.25M in economic development over the next 45 years, per high school cohort. This is how small rural communities not only survive, but thrive! Through a framework of shared responsibility, pooled resources, and student-centered programming, the PBIZ represents a sustainable educational innovation that is well-positioned to enhance the local economy for generations to come. Steady State is proud to do this work alongside Empower Schools, CareerCraft, and Education Partnership of the Permian Basin.