By Hinojosa                                          H.C.R. No. 272
         76R15356 JLZ-D                           
                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-1           WHEREAS, Education traditionally has been the best equalizer
 1-2     in our society, opening doors of economic and social opportunity
 1-3     for individual citizens; as the state economy becomes increasingly
 1-4     driven by high technology industries and enterprises requiring a
 1-5     highly trained workforce, the availability of appropriate
 1-6     technology-based educational programs becomes a key to economic
 1-7     advancement for communities and regions in the state; and
 1-8           WHEREAS, Although new industries spur job creation and
 1-9     economic growth, it is the quality of the available workforce that
1-10     lures certain industries to communities and regions in the first
1-11     place, and although the number of technology-related jobs is
1-12     increasing statewide, an unequal distribution of the trained
1-13     workforce needed to fill those jobs threatens to exacerbate
1-14     longstanding disparities in economic opportunities for communities
1-15     that traditionally have been disadvantaged in their access to
1-16     educational programs; and
1-17           WHEREAS, While Lower Rio Grande Valley schools graduate
1-18     approximately 13,000 students annually, only about 15 percent of
1-19     those high school graduates subsequently enroll in postsecondary
1-20     technical degree programs, and even fewer graduate with a two-year
1-21     or four-year degree in a technical field; and
1-22           WHEREAS, Because postsecondary educational opportunities are
1-23     limited for many Valley residents, the need for high school
1-24     technical education programs becomes more acute; while school
 2-1     districts make available career and technology education programs
 2-2     within their schools' enrichment curriculum, magnet schools that
 2-3     offer specialized curricula in certain fields provide increased
 2-4     opportunities that translate directly to upward economic and social
 2-5     mobility; and
 2-6           WHEREAS, In addition to providing individual students
 2-7     job-oriented instruction in high demand areas, magnet schools
 2-8     create other benefits that ripple through a community's economy; in
 2-9     areas where magnet schools have been established, public school
2-10     dropout rates have declined as students find programs that meet
2-11     their varying needs; and
2-12           WHEREAS, The Office of Center Operations and Community
2-13     Services (CoSERVE), which functions as the Rio Grande Valley's
2-14     labor market information resource center, submitted an analysis of
2-15     the region's labor market trends and demands and confirmed the need
2-16     for an Advanced Technology and Engineering Center to serve students
2-17     in the Edcouch-Elsa Independent School District and surrounding
2-18     communities; and
2-19           WHEREAS, CoSERVE's recommendations include a specific
2-20     curriculum for the proposed magnet school that offers several
2-21     tracks, including courses in business office technology, drafting
2-22     and design technology, electronics and telecommunications
2-23     technology, and machining technology, each area correlating with
2-24     targeted industries and occupations identified in its Rio Grande
2-25     Valley labor market report and affording the greatest potential for
2-26     future job creation and enhanced regional economic development; and
2-27           WHEREAS, In addition to making recommendations regarding the
 3-1     magnet school curriculum, CoSERVE has taken steps to contact
 3-2     corporations and future employers to obtain their support toward
 3-3     making this proposal a reality; now, therefore, be it
 3-4           RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas
 3-5     hereby direct the South Texas  Independent School District to
 3-6     establish the Advanced Technology and Engineering Center as a
 3-7     magnet school within the Edcouch-Elsa Independent School District
 3-8     to lower the high school dropout rate and to provide Rio Grande
 3-9     Valley students the job skills needed to secure gainful employment
3-10     upon graduation; and, be it further
3-11           RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official
3-12     copy of this resolution to the board president of the South Texas
3-13     Independent School District.