Houston Endowment Awards $200K to Launch Lone Star College Early Childhood Education Degree Amid Regional Teacher Shortage
In an effort to strengthen the early education workforce and open more doors for aspiring teachers across Greater Houston, the Houston Endowment has awarded Lone Star College Foundation a $200,000 grant to develop a new bachelor’s degree in early childhood education.
The proposed Bachelor of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education and Teaching (BAS ECET) will be the fifth bachelor’s degree offered by Lone Star College System (LSCS) and is projected to launch in Fall 2026. Designed to prepare certified teachers for Early Childhood through Grade 3 and Grade 6 classrooms, the new degree program directly addresses a growing teacher certification gap across Texas and the Houston region.
“About 12% of Texas teachers were uncertified in the 2024-25 school year—up from just 3.8% in 2019-20,” said Seelpa Keshvala, Ph.D., Executive Vice Chancellor, Academics at LSCS. “Lone Star College System is committed to equipping future educators with the training and expertise needed to thrive in the classroom. We’ll continue to work closely with our local school districts in these efforts.”
The Houston Endowment grant will fund consulting services and curriculum development as Lone Star College prepares for accreditation and program approval. If approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the degree will welcome its first 150 students in 2026.
“Every child deserves a well-prepared teacher, and that starts with strong, affordable pathways into the profession,” said August Hamilton, Education Program Director for Houston Endowment. “Lone Star College System’s new bachelor’s degree in early childhood education is a smart, timely response to our region’s certified teacher shortage. By aligning with workforce needs and supporting future educators on their journey to certification, this program will help ensure more children in Greater Houston have the skilled teachers they need to thrive.”
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A Strategic Investment in Houston’s Future
The Houston Endowment, a private, nonpartisan foundation established in 1937, is known for funding initiatives that address some of the city’s most pressing needs—from public education and civic engagement to green spaces and the arts. Its support of Lone Star College’s early childhood education degree aligns with broader efforts to improve long-term outcomes for Houston-area children and families.
At the heart of the initiative is a shared belief in the power of accessible education to uplift communities and address critical workforce shortages. That belief is echoed by the Lone Star College Foundation, which has provided over $26 million in scholarships and nearly $13 million in program support since 1991.
“Education is the foundation for future success,” said Nicole Robinson Gauthier, CFRE, Executive Director of LSC Foundation. “Lone Star College Foundation is eager to see this grant expand opportunities for aspiring teachers who will encourage and empower the next generation.”
Meeting the Moment for Texas Education
With campuses throughout Harris and Montgomery counties, Lone Star College serves more than 90,000 students each semester, making it the largest higher education institution in the Houston area. The college system already offers a well-regarded Associate of Arts in Teaching and an Alternative Teacher Certification Program, positioning it as a key player in Texas’ teacher preparation pipeline.
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The new BAS in Early Childhood Education and Teaching will join a growing list of bachelor’s degrees at Lone Star, which currently includes programs in cybersecurity, nursing, emergency management, and energy, manufacturing and trades management.
As school districts throughout Cypress, Spring, Conroe, Humble, Tomball, and Houston ISD continue to grapple with hiring challenges and educator retention, this new degree offers a scalable solution rooted in affordability, local access, and academic rigor.
“Lone Star College is training tomorrow’s workforce today,” said Mario K. Castillo, J.D., Chancellor of LSCS. “With support from Houston Endowment and our community partners, we are proud to help shape the future of education in Texas—one teacher at a time.”
Stay Tuned for More
To learn more about the new BAS ECET degree or explore Lone Star College’s education programs, visit LoneStar.edu/Programs-Of-Study/Associate-Of-Arts-Teaching.
For ongoing updates about education and workforce development in the Greater Houston area, stay connected with My Neighborhood News.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.