Leading Educators Named as Approved Provider for Texas LASO Cycle 4

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — November 3, 2025

Leading Educators, a national nonprofit dedicated to helping school systems strengthen teaching and learning at scale, has been approved by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) as an official provider for Leadership & Instructional Foundations for Texas (LIFT), LIFT Add-On: School Improvement PLC Support (LIFT SI PLC), and School Improvement Curriculum and Instruction Support Grant (SI CISG) during Cycle 4 of Learning Acceleration Support Opportunities (LASO).

The LIFT program, part of LASO Cycle 4’s statewide strategy to accelerate student learning, supports districts to build instructional coherence, strengthen leadership capacity, and ensure effective implementation of high-quality instructional materials (HQIM). Through this multi-year grant, districts will receive up to $4.5 million in combined funding and in-kind support to plan, launch, and refine systems that enable sustained instructional improvement.

This is an extraordinary opportunity for Texas districts to make lasting improvements in teaching and learning,” said Karolyn Belcher, Chief Growth Officer. “We’re honored to partner with leaders who are ready to look beneath the surface, align their systems, and empower educators with the tools, knowledge, and support to help every student thrive.”

A Proven Partner in Instructional Improvement

For more than 14 years, Leading Educators has supported states and large urban districts across the United States to design and scale sustainable systems for excellent, future-ready teaching. The organization brings:

• Research-backed impact, with 21 programs achieving positive results that meet ESSA Tier 3 or higher evidence standards, including one Tier 1 study recognized by the What Works Clearinghouse.
• Deep expertise in the science of teaching and learning, supporting dozens of school systems to reverse declining achievement through focused educator development in literacy, math, and instructional leadership.
• A capacity-building approach that equips leaders to sustain improvement long after external support ends.

Through LASO Cycle 4, Leading Educators will focus on helping participating districts achieve LIFT’s three core goals:

1. A clear, strong vision for instruction supported by HQIM and aligned district systems.
2. Consistent campus-level routines for observation, feedback, and continuous improvement.
3. Fidelity of HQIM implementation to ensure access to high-quality instruction for every student.

Partnering for Lasting Results

Leveraging perspective from partnerships with Texas school systems, including Fort Worth Independent School District and Houston Independent School District, Leading Educators’ support will help leaders:

• Diagnose current instructional and leadership strengths and needs.
• Align professional learning systems around clear priorities.
• Build sustainable routines for coaching, reflection, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure HQIM implementation translates into meaningful learning gains for students.

Texas districts participating in LASO Cycle 4 have until December 3, 2025, to finalize plans for LIFT partnerships.

We’re ready and eager to help Texas districts make high-quality teaching more consistent, sustainable, and joyful at a time of significant stakes,” said Michael Freeland, the organization’s Managing Director for Texas partnerships. “We’re ready to work shoulder to shoulder with system leaders to build the structures, habits, and confidence their teams need to succeed far into the future.”

Beyond this opportunity, several Texas districts are currently participating in innovation pilots with Leading Educators, focusing on enhancing instructional practices, planning, and experiences with artificial intelligence. These districts include Cumby Collegiate ISD, Floydada Collegiate ISD, Roscoe Collegiate ISD, and Uvalde CISD.

About Leading Educators

Leading Educators partners with school systems to help educators and leaders unlock the power of high-quality teaching for every student. Founded in 2011, the organization has supported more than 40 systems and 1 million students nationwide through long-term partnerships that strengthen curriculum, professional learning, and instructional leadership.

To learn more about how Leading Educators can support your district’s LIFT application and implementation, visit initiatives.leadingeducators.org/-texas-lift.

Learn about LIFT support