Texas

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) administers the Texas Student Data System, a statewide platform for collecting, managing, sharing, and reporting state education data. The system has a data standards and data governance process. Additionally, the Workforce Information System of Texas (TWIST) links data across workforce funding streams for intake, eligibility determination, and reporting on programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Employment and Training, and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act plan. Both these data platforms are used to assess grantee performance, identify common issues that could benefit from collaborative approaches, and understand residents’ needs. Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), Texas Higher Education Commission and Board (THECB), and Texas Education Agency (TEA) signed a single comprehensive MOU for data sharing between the three agencies in July of 2022.

The Texas Department of Family & Protective Services defines and prioritizes evidence of effectiveness in its Nurse-Family Partnership program to develop and expand evidence-based nurse home visiting programs, the Community Youth Development program, the Healthy Outcomes through Prevention and Early Support (HOPES) program, the Prevention and Early Intervention program, and the Texas Service Members, Veterans and Families program.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission defines and prioritizes evidence of effectiveness in its Adult Mental Health Recovery-Based Outreach Services in Peer-Focused Environments program and Veterans and Family Alliance Grant Program.

The Texas Workforce Commission defines and prioritizes evidence of effectiveness in its Adult Education and Literacy Employer Engagement, Texas Talent Connection and Building and Construction Trades programs.

The One Star Foundation (a nonprofit that administers state Americorps funding), through the Texas State Service Commission, defines and prioritizes evidence of effectiveness through its AmeriCorps programs.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board defines and prioritizes evidence of effectiveness in its Perkins Equitable Access and Opportunity program.

Additional information on the use of evidence of effectiveness in these programs is available on the Honor Roll of State Grant Programs that Define and Prioritize Evidence of Effectiveness.

Texas provides information regarding the process for Evidence Based Grantmaking and Outcomes Based Payments at Texas Workforce Commission Evidence Based Grantmaking | Texas Workforce Commission. Applicants and grantees are provided with this information during the solicitation phase of included requests for application (RFAs).

The Texas Workforce Commission reviews its grantee performance monthly or quarterly. Per deobligation policy in state statute, the Commission has authority to terminate contracts for poor performing grantees. Funds deobligated from grantees are typically first available to transfer to other grantees within the program before they are pulled back to agency wide reserves. It states:

“[Texas Workforce Commission] may deobligate funds if performance and/or expenditures are not meeting a detailed program plan and implementation schedule; and/or expenditure projections at the following intervals: twenty-five percent (25%) of the grant period; fifty percent (50%) of the grant period; and seventy-five percent (75%) of the grant period.”