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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Lone Star State is home to a growing population |
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of residents for whom English is not the primary language, yet |
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English proficiency is critical to academic success and career |
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advancement; and |
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WHEREAS, The future growth of the Texas economy is highly |
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dependent on the availability of a well-educated workforce with |
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strong communication skills; the expansion of bilingual education |
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in public schools could be one means of raising the percentage of |
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workers proficient in English, but many parts of Texas are |
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experiencing a scarcity of bilingual education teachers; and |
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WHEREAS, English language literacy for all Texas children is |
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crucial, and as we seek to maintain our quality of life during the |
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current national downturn and prepare for greater prosperity in the |
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future, it is important to determine the best methods of developing |
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a strong, capable workforce with the communications skills required |
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for full participation in a dynamic world economy; now, therefore, |
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be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby request the Texas Higher |
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Education Coordinating Board to study whether bilingual education |
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should be designated as a critical field in postsecondary education |
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and direct the board to explore the feasibility of providing |
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scholarships, grants, and other forms of financial assistance to |
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encourage college students in bilingual education to pursue |
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teaching careers in the areas of Texas in greatest need of such |
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expertise; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the commissioner of higher education and the chair of |
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the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board as an expression of |
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legislative will and intent by the Texas House of Representatives. |
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Alonzo |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 73 was adopted by the House on July 2, |
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2009, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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