@BarrioIntellect
Angela Valenzuela
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Press Contact: Dr. Christopher Carmona at 956.854.1717 or christopher.carmona@utrgv.edu.
San Antonio Hosts Statewide Summit on Implementing
Mexican American Studies in Texas Schools
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| Artwork courtesy of artist Mary Agnes Rodriguez |
San Antonio will host the first ever Summit on Implementing Mexican American Studies in Texas Schools. The summit is organized by the National Association for Chicana & Chicano Studies (NACCS) regional conference, Tejas Foco Committee on Mexican American Studies (MAS) Pre-K–12. The one-day event will be held on Saturday, June 18, 2016, from 9:00 AM-5:30 PM at the San Antonio College McAllister Auditorium (1300 San Pedro Ave, San Antonio, TX 78212). The summit is free and open to all educators and community members who are interested in participating in creating a strategic plan for implementing Mexican American Studies in Texas schools.
Mexican American and Latino students comprise 51.3% of school-aged children in the state of Texas and this demographic is expected to grow to 67% by 2050 according to the Hobby Center. Educational research has shown that students who take Mexican American and other Ethnic Studies courses are more academically engaged, graduate from high school at higher rates, score better on standardized tests, and achieve higher grades in all of their courses. The Texas State Board of Education allows individual school districts and schools the option of implementing Mexican American and other Ethnic Studies courses. Textbooks and other instructional materials are in development.
The goals of the Summit on Implementing Mexican American Studies in Texas Schools are to identify institutional barriers, establish priorities, and develop a plan of action for the implementation of Mexican American Studies in Texas schools from Pre-K to 12th grade and for increasing access to MAS courses and content within the broader community. During this Summit there will be a press conference addressing the controversial Mexican American Studies textbook being proposed to the Texas State Board of Education, as well as other issues related to the Summit, at 11:15 am in the McAllister Auditorium.
Teachers and experts in the field of Mexican American Studies will facilitate and participate in workshops and breakout sessions on various topics, including: Information & Data Collection, Media/Promotions, Political/Legislative, Community-Based MAS Programs, and developing curriculum, textbooks, teacher training, and other in-school programs for Elementary/Pre-K-5th grade, Middle and High Schools. Priorities and action plans, both short term and long term, will be developed in these breakout sessions and presented at the final General Assembly.
The Summit on Implementing Mexican American Studies in Texas Schools is presented by the National Association for Chicana & Chicano Studies Tejas Foco Committee on Mexican American Studies Pre-K–12, and hosted by San Antonio College with co-sponsorship support from the Palo Alto College Center for Mexican American Studies, the Center for Mexican American Studies at UT San Antonio, Somos MAS/Mexican American Studies San Antonio, Tejas, the Center for Mexican American Studies and Research at Our Lady of the Lake University, MAS Unidxs, the Mexican American Studies Program at UT Rio Grande Valley, the Rio Grande Valley Coalition for Mexican American Studies in K-12 Education, Nuestra Palabra, Librotraficante, MAS Texas, and MAS for the Masses.
For information or registration, contact Dr. Christopher Carmona at christopher.carmona@utrgv.edu or 956.854.1717.
National Association for Chicana & Chicano Studies Tejas Foco
Committee on Mexican American Studies Pre-K-12 presents a
Summit on Implementing Mexican American Studies in Texas Schools
Saturday, June 18, 2016
9:00am–5:30pm
San Antonio College McAllister Auditorium
1300 San Pedro Ave, San Antonio, TX 78212
Opening Reception & Registration: 9:00–10:00am (McAllister Auditorium Foyer)
- Check in and registration with light breakfast.
General Assembly: 10:00–11:15am (McAllister Auditorium)
- Dr. Vela/SAC President, Welcome (10 mins)
- Dr. Christopher Carmona, Summit Goals/Thanks to sponsoring organizations & dignitaries (10 mins)
- Dr. Marie Miranda & Dr. June Pedraza present organizations from around the state
Introduction to Juan Tejeda (15 mins)
- Juan Tejeda, Orientation/Breakout Sessions (30 mins)
Press Conference: 11:15am-12pm (McAllister Auditorium)
- Speakers will give statements on goals of Summit & Textbook issue
- Questions/Answers
Lunch- 12:00–1:00pm
- Lunch will be provided.
Working Breakout Sessions: 1:00–4:00pm (Classrooms)
- Information & Data Collection
- Media/Promotions
- Political/Legislative
- Community
- Elementary Pre-K-5th Grade
- Middle School
- High School
General Assembly: 4:00-5:30pm (McAllister Auditorium)
- Breakout Session Reports (10 minutes for each Breakout Session)
- Action Plans
- Closing, Dr. Christopher Carmona
Closing Reception: 5:30-6:30pm (McAllister Auditorium Foyer)
- Light Food & drinks will be provided.
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