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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The face of Texas is rapidly changing, and |
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demographic trends indicate that Hispanics will soon make up a |
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majority of the state's population; as a result, more certified |
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bilingual teachers are needed, and a program at the University of |
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North Texas is wisely addressing that need; and |
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WHEREAS, In collaboration with the Texas Higher Education |
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Coordinating Board, UNT is offering the Roberto R. Alonzo |
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Bilingual/ESL Education Scholars Program to provide scholarships |
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as incentives for students to pursue certification programs in |
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bilingual or ESL education; covering tuition and fees, the |
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scholarships are available to junior and senior undergraduate and |
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postbaccalaureate students at UNT; and |
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WHEREAS, Students enrolled in this program must maintain at |
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least a 2.75 grade point average, meet financial aid requirements, |
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and use the scholarship funds to pay for courses and fees related to |
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early childhood to sixth-grade bilingual or ESL generalist |
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certification; an average of 30 UNT students benefit from the |
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scholarship program each semester; and |
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WHEREAS, Equipping future teachers with fluency in the |
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Spanish language that will facilitate the delivery of content in |
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the classroom as well as encouraging respect and appreciation of |
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linguistic and cultural differences are important priorities of the |
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UNT program, and student participants may take pride in the fact |
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that they are providing a service that is vital to the future of our |
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state by attending to the needs of the growing population of |
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Spanish-speaking schoolchildren; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor participants in the University of North |
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Texas Roberto R. Alonzo Bilingual/ESL Education Scholars Program |
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for 2015 and commend them for their commitment and dedication to the |
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children of Texas. |
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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. 80 was adopted by the House on |
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February 19, 2015, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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