By Zaffirini                                    S.C.R. No. 13

      75R3849 EFD-D                           

                                CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-1           WHEREAS, Education policy in the State of Texas has shifted

 1-2     from statewide mandates to local control that allows parents and

 1-3     school boards the freedom to plan for and meet the special needs of

 1-4     their children and their communities; and

 1-5           WHEREAS, While local control of many education decisions

 1-6     offers needed flexibility to educators and parents, there are basic

 1-7     elements in curriculum, guidance, and learning that should be

 1-8     common to every classroom across the state in order to raise future

 1-9     generations of successful, responsible, and innovative Texans who

1-10     are able to meet the challenges of the next century; and

1-11           WHEREAS, Education should impart not only academic knowledge,

1-12     but also the ability to apply theory to real-life situations, and

1-13     should have as its goal helping students achieve their full

1-14     potential as well-rounded and  contributing members of society; and

1-15           WHEREAS, An innovative way to teach students about the real

1-16     world is to take them outside the narrow confines of the classroom

1-17     and give them hands-on experience with complex problems and needs

1-18     that exist in their own neighborhoods and communities; and

1-19           WHEREAS, While many school districts across the state have

1-20     programs in place to address the special academic needs of gifted

1-21     and talented students and students taking advanced college

1-22     placement courses, these programs do not require leadership

1-23     development and training for our state's most promising students

1-24     and future leaders; and

 2-1           WHEREAS, Community service programs give participants

 2-2     valuable insight into local problems and issues, allow them to

 2-3     formulate and implement new and creative solutions to existing

 2-4     needs, and develop useful leadership and organizational skills; and

 2-5           WHEREAS, Establishing community service requirements for

 2-6     students in advanced programs would augment academic knowledge with

 2-7     real-life experience, develop interested and involved citizens with

 2-8     roots in the community, and create the leaders and problem solvers

 2-9     of the future; now, therefore, be it

2-10           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

2-11     hereby encourage all independent school districts in the state to

2-12     require a community service component for any advanced or honors

2-13     programs that the districts establish; and, be it further

2-14           RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official

2-15     copy of this resolution to the commissioner of education and to

2-16     members of the State Board of Education.