MALDEF, LATINO COALITION FOR EDUCATIONAL EQUALITY LAYS OUT KEY REFORMS

MEDIA ADVISORY         For Immediate Distribution   February 18, 2013    CONTACT:   Luis Figueroa: 210-422-0965 Legislative Attorney, MALDEF lfigueroa@maldef.org         MALDEF, LATINO COALITION FOR EDUCATIONAL EQUALITY LAYS OUT KEY REFORMS LATINO Leaders and Experts call on Texas Legislature to address the needs of Latino Students   Who: MALDEF, HOPE, TCEP, IDRA, TABE, TACHE, Texas LULAC, TAMACC, MASBA, SVREP, Latina Policy Coalition, La Fe Policy and Research Center When: Tuesday, February 19 at 10:00 a.m.   Where: Capitol Room 2E.9 Outside Senate Chambers (AUSTIN, Texas) – Members of the newly-formed Latino Coalition for Educational Equality including MALDEF, HOPE (Hispanics Organized for Political Education), TABE, TACHE, Texas LULAC, MASBA, SVREP and the Latino Policy Coalition will present education policy reforms aimed at improving the quality of education for all Texas students, especially those that are low-income, English Language Learners, and attending under-resourced schools.   Throughout the day, members of the coalition, as well academic experts advising the coalition will be presenting testimony at both the House and Senate Education Committee Hearings related to school accountability, student assessments and graduation requirements.    “We can no longer continue the culture of high stakes testing and under-resourced schools. It’s time the Texas Legislature take meaningful steps to improve the quality of education for all Texas students,” stated David Hinojosa,Regional Counsel for MALDEF and lead attorney for the Edgewood plaintiffs in the latest school finance case, Edgewood ISD v. Williams.     # # # MALDEF Founded in 1968, MALDEF is the nation’s leading Latino legal civil rights organization. Often described as the “law firm of the Latino community,” MALDEF promotes social change through advocacy, communications, community education, and litigation in the areas of education, employment, immigrant rights, and political access.   For more information on MALDEF, please visit: www.maldef.org.

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