Alyssa Morton and Luke Rhine 7/1/26 Alyssa Morton and Luke Rhine 7/1/26

The $50 Billion Rural Healthcare Opportunity States Can’t Afford To Miss

Morton and Rhine: States should use the new federal dollars to build a healthcare talent pipeline for rural communities, starting in high school.

Empower Schools Communications 4/7/26 Empower Schools Communications 4/7/26

Inside 5 Rural Texas Districts That Together Set Students on Path to the Future

High schoolers travel to districts up to an hour away to attend academies in welding, teaching, nursing, robotics — and earn college credit.

Empower Schools Communications 10/8/25 Empower Schools Communications 10/8/25

‘You’re going to win’: Crowley ISD, Paul Quinn College team up on middle schooL

Quinnite Schools Network and Crowley ISD began an 1882 partnership to improve middle school scores while making college planning a part of...

Empower Schools Communications 9/3/25 Empower Schools Communications 9/3/25

Empower Schools Awarded $750,000 Grant from Greater Texas Foundation

Empower Schools is proud to announce a $750,000 grant from Greater Texas Foundation to support the expansion of Rural Pathway Excellence Partnerships (R-PEP) to three additional regions: Region 14, Region 1, and Region 16, and support broader efforts to spread the rural collaborative model.

Empower Schools Communications 8/5/25 Empower Schools Communications 8/5/25

Rural communities unite to build career pathways for students

“Rural leaders are reimagining student and community success by forming Rural Collaboratives as other regions refer to these programs, which bring together local school districts, higher education institutions, employers, and regional development partners to expand rural students’ access to high-quality college and career pathways that also benefit the community."

Empower Schools Communications 7/29/25 Empower Schools Communications 7/29/25

Heartland Innovation: Indiana Superintendent Neal Adams

A conversation with Randolph, IN Superintendent Neal Adams on building successful, innovative rural school communities, including a "grow your own" teacher program, and healthcare industry apprenticeships. Taped live at ASU+GSV 2025 and hosted by CER's Caroline Allen.

Empower Schools Communications 7/15/25 Empower Schools Communications 7/15/25

The Education Ecosystem - Reshaping Community Partnerships

Featuring Empower Schools Director, PBS Michiana discusses ommunities, schools, and businesses reshaping partnerships amidst an ever-changing education landscape.

Empower Schools Communications 6/10/25 Empower Schools Communications 6/10/25

Innovation schools are retaining teachers. Here is how

“While we may have more flexibility and agility than traditional public schools, the practices we developed can be successfully applied anywhere."

Empower Schools Communications 5/12/25 Empower Schools Communications 5/12/25

Empower Schools and the Center for Education Policy Research Partner to Advance Research on the Enabling Policies and Impact of Rural Collaboratives

Empower Schools Communications 4/15/25 Empower Schools Communications 4/15/25

In shrinking rural towns, these Texas high schools are teaming up to stay alive

“We looked across the street, we looked at close neighbors and said, 'What are you guys doing well and what can we take advantage of as a school district?'" said Michael Gonzales, executive director of Rural Schools Innovation Zone, a nonprofit that runs the initiative."

Empower Schools Communications 12/19/24 Empower Schools Communications 12/19/24

What's More Bipartisan Than Rural Career Pathway Initiatives?

High schoolers travel to districts up to an hour away to attend academies in welding, teaching, nursing, robotics — and earn college credit.

Empower Schools Team 8/24/24 Empower Schools Team 8/24/24

‘Not Waiting for People to Save us’: 9 School Districts Combine Forces to Help Students

Nine Southwest Colorado school districts combine courses, staff, equipment, funding, and employer partnerships to expand opportunities for rural students.

Empower Schools Communications 7/13/24 Empower Schools Communications 7/13/24

How to Use School-Level Autonomy to Improve Schools? Design it with the People Most Affected By It

Empower Schools helped design and launch Lawrence Public Schools’ turnaround plan. A CPRL story examines how the district later developed its School Autonomy Framework with educators.