Welcome to Every Texan! (formerly CPPP)

I can't say enough about this great organization, Every Texan, formerly named the Center for Public Policy Priorities (or "C Triple P"). They have been in existence for 35 years and they are dedicated to expert policy analysis and social justice, equity-based advocacy.

Do check out their website. Like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Some of our UT students in Education Policy and Planning have even had the opportunity to work in internships there.

Thanks, Every Texan, for all that you have done in service to our state and for all that you are abundantly well positioned to do at a time of such uncertainty and rapid change.

-Angela Valenzuela

@EveryTxn #txlege #txlegacy #TxEd

The Truth About the "Texas Dream Act" - 84th 2015 Texas Legislative Session

Here is the truth about in-state tuition for non-citizen, resident Texans from the Center for Public Policy Priorities—otherwise referred to as "HB1403" or the "Texas Dream Act." Texas, btw, was the first state to pass this in 2001 and was followed by California AB 540 and now a good number of states have it.  This is good and just policy, my friends.

Senate Bill 1819 by Senator Campbell et al.  is a threat to HB 1403.  Her bill mends state law so that a person unauthorized to be present in the United States cannot be considered a resident of this state for the purposes of receiving in-state tuition at a public institution of higher education. Undocumented students who currently receive in-state tuition at a public institution of higher education with at least 30 hours of credit before the 2015-16 academic year will be exempt from the changes.

This bill will get heard on April 6th, at 8AM Veteran Affairs & Military Installations-S/C Border Security Committee (which, btw, offensively frames DREAMers as a security threat!) at the Texas State Capitol in 2E.20 (Betty King Cmte. Rm.).

DREAMers and allies will be coming from throughout the state to challenge this.  Get your voice heard, too.  I think that there will also be a 10:30AM press conference outside the hearing room, too (will confirm).

#LatinoEdu #TxLege #EdPolicy #DREAMAct  #TxDREAMers #TxTuitionEquity  #TexasDREAM

-Angela

Big Week for Pre-K in the Texas House

Posted by CPPP on Monday, March 9, 2015 · Leave a Comment

Pre-Kindergarten in Texas could get a big boost this legislative session, and it’s encouraging that there are several legislative proposals on the table. The Center for Public Policy Priorities just released a new report with recommendations for ways Texas can use Pre-K to close the opportunity gap for Texas kids.

Governor Abbott has declared Pre-K an emergency item that the Legislature must focus on this session. On March 10 the House Public Education Committee will hear a variety of bills aimed at improving the current Pre-K program.

Research shows that Pre-K works. Studies of Texas’ modest half-day Pre-K program shows that participation is tied to increased math and reading test scores and reductions in needing special education services in later grades. Texas’ children could make even greater strides if Pre-K expanded to a full-day program.

We know that Pre-K is a sound investment. A recent Texas-specific study found that for every dollar invested in Pre-K the state saves $3.50 through the reduced need for remedial or special education, lower crime rates, and decreases in participation in public programs. Full-day, quality Pre-K helps lower-income kids start school ready to learn and pays huge dividends.

Last week State Representative Joe Deshotel, Samsung Austin Semiconductor representative Catherine Morse, University of Texas associate professor Liz Gershoff and CPPP Executive Director Ann Beeson held an engaging panel discussion about Pre-K as part of the State of Texas Children 2015 report release. View video of that panel discussion here.

To build on the positive gains being made by the current Pre-K program, CPPP recommends that the Legislature:

• Establish Pre-K as a full-day program for currently eligible students.
• Improve quality standards such as class size limits, student-teacher ratios, and health screenings.
• Establish an office of early learning to encourage and oversee collaborations between Pre-K, Head Start, child care providers, and state agencies.

Read our new Pre-K report, and let’s urge lawmakers to invest in Pre-K to ensure Texas kids are ready to learn from day one.