http://www.statesman.com/news/content/region/legislature/stories/08/15/0815commcollege.html

check this out...this is what i was talking about a couple blogs ago...

In Response to Now in Texas: Concerning the AVID Program

AVID, Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a promising program to many students excel towards a higher education and standard of living in America, especially the minorities. Texas is known for having minorities as a huge part of our state. After reading Now in Texas’ blog, I have discovered the rewarding benefits this program has to offer for students in the 5th -12th grades. The number of students getting helped by AVID is increasing each year, and the statistics express that the students in this program do better in school and produce constructive results for their futures.

My question to Now in Texas is: how do these schools implement this program, and what are the costs for providing it? This is unclear in the blog post, but I think it’s important information. What’s the catch? If AVID’s main target is assisting minorities, then this program should be a tool Texas uses to break away from Robin Hood. Rather than take other school’s money, or by taking other school’s money, this program could be put into practice to alleviate the unfair catastrophe Robin Hood has become. Every school in Texas deserves equal opportunity, quality, and facility requirements. Depending on the price of AVID, it could determine the necessary amount of money Robin Hood takes away from the wealthier schools. Schools that have a more diverse population, tend to need more attention and special needs. It’s also important to factor in the sizes of the schools and students that are partaking in this program. All students should be aware of their educational journey, and get a clear idea of the map as they further their knowledge. Many students probably benefit from the AVID program, and learn their options and opportunities following middle school and after high school. The minorities, including, Hispanics, African Americans, Asian Americans, and Native Americans tend to need special assistance or guidance in school, especially if they aren’t getting any help from their parents, which is highly possible.

The option of furthering one’s education by attending college is imperative to a young person’s life. If AVID teaches students that, and executes a stronger work ethic in students, I encourage Texas schools to consider this option. To get more factual background and see some statistics regarding the effectiveness AVID has had on schools including Carter-Riverside High School in Fort Worth, and schools outside of Texas, I encourage you to take a glance at my fellow colleague’s blog post –AVID, one step closer to college dreams.

Dew right for the sake of community colleges.

Recently, Governor Rick Perry vetoed funding of $154 million dollars going out to community colleges in regards to health insurance. According to the Austin American Statesman, the alternative to state funding would mean that community colleges would have to raise the prices of tuition, local taxes, or put restrictions on enrollment to cover these health benefits. Lieutenant governor, David Dewhurst is working his magic to convince the governor with the assistance of speaker of the house, Tom Craddick, and the Legislative Budget Board to reassess his June veto.

As a student, Governor Perry has lost like a gazillion brownie points because of this decision. I believe his efforts to assess this issue have been minimal. Some people are privileged and motivated to attend universities, but on the other hand, many people can’t afford instate tuition, and or need to take school at their own pace. After high school, college is optional but rather should be seen as a privilege. As a native Texan, I attended school at Chapman University in Orange, California beginning my freshman year, but soon realized that I wanted to return to the lone star state. I attended Austin Community College the following spring, while I considered my future options.

Community colleges provide opportunities for a wide range of students in terms of age, ethnicity, motivation, and class to begin or advance their educational pathway and at their own pace. To raise tuition prices or limit people from furthering their education because community colleges are not getting the health benefits they deserve, doesn’t seem fair. Community colleges serve to provide knowledge for practically anyone for a reasonable price without placing biases on anyone like universities do during the application process. Hence the word COMMUNITY, community colleges all over Texas serve to enlightening Texans all over.

I pay my respects to Lieutenant governor Dewhurst for his efforts to provide for the community in regards to education. Every Texas citizen should have the opportunity to attend college whether or not they choose to do so. Community colleges have set the pathway for many students to learn about themselves and gain perspective on where they want to focus their studies, while enriching others in fields that may be of personal interest. They also provide students with the advantage of setting their own pace, and letting them take classes they are comfortable with.

We have enough problems with public education system in general, and it is obvious that teachers don’t get paid enough for their contributions to society anyhow. Educating our future leaders and the majority of citizens is important, and because not all people fall into the higher-middle class bracket, some count on community colleges to get to where they want to be. Community colleges do nothing but help students. Without people like Dewhurst, who is eagerly and willingly fighting for education's sake of the community, we could be assured that the state's overall involvement in politics and the general good of the people would be lacking more so. How the governor of our large state discredits or devalues the importance of financing health care for our educators does not make much sense. Maybe Perry should put himself in a class at a school like ACC and get a taste for himself--he could then see that their is a diverse range of students that experience and receive an array of educational perks.

hide and seek...lost and found

An editorial in the Dallas Morning News, titled Foster Care Foothold: Illegal migrants are exploiting the system, paints a dicey picture of immigrant parents leaving their children in the US to improve or start a new life. If caught, illegal adult immigrants or families are easily and likely to be deported, but if a minor is unaccompanied, the government does not believe in the deportation of such young individuals, so the system as of now, puts these children in the hands of foster-care contractors. Funding the foster-care for these minors is relatively expensive, leaving the government in a pickle. The plot thickens...in many cases, these children that are taken in by foster-care providers escape their supervision by running away or are given to relatives and get dismissed from their deportation trials. The bravery of these children is beyond me. Also, how difficult can it be to keep track of them? It's like these immigrants are playing the game "sardines" with the government. On the other hand, there's the option to put these children in detention facilities, such as, the Hutto Family detention center in Central Texas, which takes this problem to improper measures. Can we honestly blame these people for taking such a bold risk in hopes to better their future? The article depicts the issues our government has to face concerning this underground debacle and the need for reform. The author discusses the necessary actions that the government must consider in a rapid manner. Financially, it's appropriate to require contractual clauses along with financial penalties for the loss of a child, and there should be government employed monitors breathing down these foster kid's caretakers. These children are used in a dangerous and manipulative way to distract and busy officials from sending them home. I believe there are many hardships and controversies to this problem, and deciding to lend a hand to people in need or become stone-cold and apathetic is very difficult for the US as a whole but Texas especially. Texas is full of diversity, at least more so than many states, therefore our population tends to have a heart for immigration even if it's illegal. The method being used to exploit the system puts a huge bump in the road to satisfaction.

trying to lasso toll road bill

Texas tollway madness brings Governor Rick Perry, legislators, and the Department of Texas Transportation together to dispute the SB 792 bill. SB 792 grants private toll road contracts to last 50 years, ten years longer than in HB 1892, while also restyling the language of the bill which could allow the state to buy back toll roads from a private company, while also reworking where the money goes, and if they can establish and evaluate new projects. Legislators requested a vote for a moratorium but was not granted therefore leaving conflict and little time to consider the problems at hand. Questions circling the pros and cons of 50-year private toll road contracts and how to appease constituents against new “foreign” toll roads concerned the lawmakers. SB 792 was the agreed on bill that would control toll roads, while Perry said he would veto certain bills pertaining to private toll roads and hold sessions indefinitely until satisfied.

For complete article:
Perry Stared Down Legislative Blitz