Opportunity 2040
Opportunity 2040 is a bold initiative designed to enhance economic mobility for 150,000 additional Dallas County students each year, while also increasing the living wage attainment rate of young adults (ages 25-34) from 30% to 50% by 2040. This will impact 85,000 adults and halve the child poverty rate in Dallas County. Each graduating high school class, equipped with an Associate degree or industry-aligned certification, could gain $13 billion in lifetime earnings, significantly boosting the regional economy and reducing employer recruitment costs.
Dallas County faces severe economic challenges that significantly impact its residents. The county ranks 7th in the nation for young adults living in poverty and 6th for child poverty. Currently, only one in three young adults in Dallas County earns a living wage, with even lower rates for Hispanic and Black populations at 17% and 22%, respectively.
A significant portion of alumni (45%) have attended some college but have not earned a degree, while only 28% of alumni between the ages of 25-30 hold a post-secondary degree. According to a Georgetown workforce report, by 2031, 85% of all good jobs will require some form of post-secondary qualification.
Additionally, regional ISD alumni earn an average salary of $45,000, which equates to just 75% of the living wage needed for a family of one adult and one child. There is also a notable $22,000 salary gap between alumni with post-secondary degrees and those without.
Addressing a growing need
Opportunity 2040 stands apart because it targets both in-classroom and out-of-classroom strategies, focusing on PreK enrollment, teacher effectiveness, college advisement, and critical factors like public benefits, housing, and healthcare. It prioritizes leveraging public funding to address root causes rather than just treating symptoms. The Plan’s sponsors, Commit Partnership and the Child Poverty Action Lab (CPAL), have attracted over $250 million in funding due to their trusted leadership and track record, ensuring transparency and accountability to deliver a strong return on investment.
