By: Turner S.C.R. No. 47 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, The Legislature of the State of Texas recognizes the 1-2 Windham School System for the outstanding educational programs it 1-3 provides to reduce recidivism by assisting offenders to become 1-4 responsible and productive members of their communities; and 1-5 WHEREAS, The Windham School System reaches this goal by 1-6 serving over 40,000 offenders per year who have dropped out of the 1-7 public school system and graduating over 4,000 inmates per year 1-8 with GED Certificates, providing occupational skill training to 1-9 over 15,000 inmates per year, and coordinating the delivery of 1-10 postsecondary programs provided through colleges and universities 1-11 to over 15,000 inmates per year; and 1-12 WHEREAS, The Windham School System is an impressive success 1-13 as the largest dropout recovery effort in Texas; and 1-14 WHEREAS, Studies on the effect of the Windham School System 1-15 have demonstrated a reduction in recidivism associated with 1-16 participation in and completion of Windham school programs; and 1-17 WHEREAS, Authorized by the Texas Legislature in 1968 and 1-18 supported by the Foundation School Program, the Windham School 1-19 System is recognized as accredited by the Texas Education Agency 1-20 which establishes certification and accreditation requirements and 1-21 regulations for its operation in fulfillment of the intent of the 1-22 State Board of Education; and 1-23 WHEREAS, The Windham School System is also recognized as 2-1 accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools 2-2 (SACS), and the Windham School System was the first prison program 2-3 nationally to be fully accredited by SACS; and 2-4 WHEREAS, Correctional educators nationally recognize the 2-5 Windham School System as a leader in correctional education; and 2-6 WHEREAS, In an audit mandated by the Legislature, the State 2-7 Comptroller of Public Accounts and the Arthur Andersen Company have 2-8 recognized the management of the Windham School System to be 2-9 efficient and effective; and 2-10 WHEREAS, The Office of the Governor of Texas recognized the 2-11 leadership of the Windham School System by naming Dr. Lane Murray, 2-12 formerly the superintendent of the system for 24 years, to the 2-13 Texas Women's Hall of Fame in 1988; and 2-14 WHEREAS, The recognition by many coupled with the 2-15 demonstrated excellence of the Windham programs make the Windham 2-16 School System a credit to its namesake, James M. Windham, a 2-17 respected 24-year member of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice 2-18 which oversees Windham as its Board of Trustees; now, therefore, be 2-19 it 2-20 RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-21 hereby commend the Windham School System and congratulate it on 25 2-22 years of excellent service to the State of Texas; and, be it 2-23 further 2-24 RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be prepared for the 2-25 Windham Board of Trustees as an expression of appreciation from the 3-1 Texas Senate.