History of the Initiative
Governor Greg Abbott established the Tri-Agency Workforce Initiative in March 2016, when he tasked the Commissioners of the Texas Education Agency (TEA), the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), and the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) to work together on five initial charges centered on developing strong links between education and industry, with the goal of helping Texas grow in economic prosperity.
In 2019, the 86th Texas Legislature passed transformative school finance legislation, House Bill 3, that calls for sweeping reforms in education and will shape the future of the Texas workforce. To fully implement the vision of House Bill 3, Governor Abbott has charged the three agencies with streamlining implementation of the legislation and identifying solutions for long-term workforce needs across the state.
Tri-Agency Timeline
March 2016
Governor Abbott established the Tri-Agency Workforce Initiative
March – June 2016
Commissioners conducted 7 regional meetings
November 2016
First Tri-Agency report was published with recommendations
June 2019
House Bill 3 was signed into law, transforming school finance in Texas
February 2020
Governor Abbott issued new charges to be addressed by the Tri-Agency Workforce Initiative
February 2020
Tri-Agency progress report was published
March 2020
COVID-19 pandemic began to affect Texas; regional Tri-Agency events were canceled
April – June 2020
Multiple virtual meetings held to inform the development of the second Tri-Agency report
January 2022
Building a Talent Strong Texas plan was adopted