Changing Education Systems: Wisdom Gained by E3 Alliance in Driving Effective Change Using Data and Collaboration

by Susan Dawson

The country is being rocked by the defunding, and possible elimination, of federal support for education and social support systems in general. This insightful book contains the wisdom gained by E3 Alliance (Education Equals Economics) in driving successful education systems change in the state of Texas. It includes real-life examples, such as how E3 Alliance decreased the gap between high-performing Black and White students accessing advanced math pathways by over 90 percent, increased the number of students enrolling in high quality Pre-K by nine times, and saved the Central Texas region over $37 million by improving student attendance.
Dawson founded E3 Alliance, a nationally recognized leader in systems change, in 2006. E3 is renowned as a proof point for collaborating and aligning efforts from early childhood education to Pre-K12 school districts, higher education, and into the workforce. E3 leads the state in analyzing and sharing the most comprehensive local, regional, and statewide education data ever made available to help students succeed and improve economic mobility and sustainability.

125 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 11, 2025

Reviews

[Larkin Tackett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Founder of the Central Texas place-based partnership E3 Alliance Susan Dawson wrote this succinct and descriptive book about her experience changing education systems in Texas. I've had the pleasure to work with Susan on the MBK Scholars strategy. This book is clear and actionable. After reading a chapter, I immediately shared it with a group of emerging place-based leaders I'm supporting. Susan founded E3 five years before others coined the phrase "Collective Impact." If there is a description in the book that best describes Susan's leadership it is, "doggedly persistent." As powerful as her and E3's contributions, such as the closing the gap in placement and completion of advanced middle school math between Black and White students high-performing students by 91%, she is also reflective. "... we have more work to do to shift power to those with lived experience of challenges in the current education system." Bravo to Susan and her E3 team for this important book to honor their work.