1-1                                       1

 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 423

 1-3           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas takes great

 1-4     pleasure in saluting the Del Valle Independent School District,

 1-5     whose Adult Education Program was recognized by United States

 1-6     Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley on September 26, 1996,

 1-7     in Washington, D.C.; and

 1-8           WHEREAS, Twelve programs across the United States received

 1-9     the Secretary's Award for Outstanding Adult Education and Literacy

1-10     Programs; and

1-11           WHEREAS, Austin Community College, which has furnished

1-12     instructional support to the Del Valle Independent School District

1-13     Even Start Family Literacy Program, was also recognized at the same

1-14     event; and

1-15           WHEREAS, Renowned as one of the best examples of model

1-16     practices in family literacy in the state, the Del Valle project has

1-17     experienced extraordinary success; 13 women have recently completed

1-18     the General Educational Development degree through this excellent

1-19     program; and

1-20           WHEREAS, Kim Fluker, Elva Hernandez, Rufina Perez,

1-21     Alicia Lopez, Crystal Knapp, Sarah Gahagan, Tammy Dieckhoff,

1-22     Laura Gomez, Bertha Gomez, Misia Ovalle, Rosie Ramirez, Ana Lopez,

1-23     and Yadira Esparza have succeeded against formidable odds; they are

 2-1     to be heartily congratulated; and

 2-2           WHEREAS, In the past two and one-half years, 130 families have

 2-3     been served by the Del Valle Independent School District Even Start

 2-4     Program; the goal for the project is to educate parents and children

 2-5     together so families reach the objectives they set for themselves;

 2-6     and

 2-7           WHEREAS, Components of the program include early childhood

 2-8     education, adult basic and secondary education, parent education,

 2-9     learning English as a second language, computer literacy, workplace

2-10     and life skills, and community service; and

2-11           WHEREAS, Most parents involved in the project wanted to

2-12     learn to read to their children in English; presently, 100 percent

2-13     of the students read to their children in English; 93 percent of

2-14     the students state that they can help their children with their

2-15     homework, and 93 percent are now able to fill out a job application;

2-16     and

2-17           WHEREAS, The success and triumph of helping individuals

2-18     accomplish desired objectives is sufficient reward for those

2-19     involved in Project Even Start; now, therefore, be it

2-20           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,

2-21     75th Legislature, hereby congratulate Austin Community College,

2-22     the Del Valle Independent School District Even Start Family

2-23     Literacy Program, and the 13 women who have recently worked so

2-24     hard to obtain their General Educational Development degrees; and,

2-25     be it further

 3-1           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared as an

 3-2     expression of the highest esteem and regard of the Texas Senate.

 3-3                                                              Barrientos

 3-4                                  ______________________________________

 3-5                                          President of the Senate

 3-6                                       I hereby certify that the above

 3-7                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate

 3-8                                  on April 1, 1997.

 3-9                                  ______________________________________

3-10                                          Secretary of the Senate

3-11                                  ______________________________________

3-12                                           Member, Texas Senate