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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 394
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WHEREAS, Supporters of the Knowledge Is Power Program, a |
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national network of public charter schools, are gathering in |
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Austin on March 5, 2013, for KIPP Day at the State Capitol; and |
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WHEREAS, KIPP was founded in 1994 by Mike Feinberg and Dave |
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Levin, two Teach For America alumni who decided to start a |
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fifth-grade public school program in Houston; the following |
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year, Mr. Feinberg launched a middle school in the same city and |
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Mr. Levin began one in the Bronx; specifically seeking to prepare |
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underprivileged and at-risk children for the challenges and |
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opportunities they will face in high school, college, and beyond, |
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these schools became success stories in their communities; and |
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WHEREAS, The two founders of KIPP partnered with Doris and |
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Donald Fisher to create the KIPP Foundation, which would fund |
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KIPP schools on a nationwide scale; in addition to middle |
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schools, they established elementary and high schools, all of |
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them locally managed and independently operated; they are |
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tuition-free and open to all, funded through federal, state, and |
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local sources, and held to state and federal academic standards; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Today, there are 125 KIPP schools in 20 states and |
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the District of Columbia, and they have a combined enrollment of |
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more than 41,000; more than 87 percent of the student population |
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is from low-income families and more than 95 percent are racial |
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minorities; after attending KIPP middle schools, more than 90 |
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percent of these students go on to graduate from high school and |
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more than 80 percent attend college; and |
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WHEREAS, To foster a strong culture of learning, KIPP |
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schools build a partnership between parents, students, and |
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teachers, and the schools promote character formation along with |
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academics; longer school days and high expectations help |
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students reach their goals; and |
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WHEREAS, Providing a strong primary and secondary school |
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foundation is an endeavor in which all Texans have a stake, and |
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KIPP is indeed worthy of commendation for redefining what is |
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possible in educational achievement; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 83rd |
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Legislature, hereby recognize March 5, 2013, as KIPP Day at the |
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State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere best |
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wishes for an informative and enjoyable trip to Austin. |
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Patrick, Van de Putte |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on March 5, 2013. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |