Johnson Announces More Than $7.3 Million in Federal Education Grants for North Texas
January 30, 2026
Funding will support workforce readiness, innovation in higher education, and student success across North Texas.
DALLAS, TX — Congresswoman Julie Johnson today announced more than $4.3 million in federal grant funding awarded to higher education institutions serving North Texas through the U.S. Department of Education’s Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education – Special Projects (FIPSE-SP) highly competitive program.
“Investing in our colleges and universities is one of the most effective ways to strengthen our workforce and expand opportunity for students,” said Congresswoman Johnson. “These grants will help ensure North Texas students are prepared for a rapidly changing economy while giving institutions the tools they need to deliver high-quality, affordable education.”
Dallas College received $3,386,498 to support an AI-Enabled Teaching and Learning Initiative that will expand faculty development, modernize curriculum, and integrate industry-aligned credentials to prepare students for an AI-driven workforce.
The University of Texas at Dallas was awarded $4,000,000 to launch the Future Ready AI Collaborative, a four-year initiative that will integrate responsible AI literacy into coursework, expand AI-enabled tutoring and advising, and strengthen college-and-career pathways for students in partnership with Uplift Education.
“The Future Ready AI Collaborative represents a significant investment in the next generation of leaders by UT Dallas’ Jindal School of Management,” said Gaurav Shekhar, Associate Dean of the Naveen Jindal School of Management, UT Dallas. “This grant will allow us to leverage cutting-edge technology to personalize learning and remove administrative barriers for educators. This partnership underscores our commitment to innovation, ensuring that students from all backgrounds have the advanced support systems they need to succeed in an AI-driven economy and to stand out in tomorrow’s workforce.”
Congresswoman Johnson encourages eligible institutions and community partners to continue pursuing federal opportunities that strengthen workforce training and expand access to high-quality education.
Congresswoman Julie Johnson represents Texas’s 32nd Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, serving on the Homeland Security Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee, and the House Administration Committee. Her district includes parts of Collin, Dallas, and Denton Counties.
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