Legislative Committee on Grants Programs Adopts Interim Report
AUSTIN - The Legislative Oversight Committee on the TEXAS and Teach for Texas Grant Programs met today, December 18th, 2000, at the State Capitol. Its interim report was presented and adopted by all the members.
The purpose of the committee is to monitor the operation of the TEXAS and Teach for Texas grant programs, with emphasis on how the grants are awarded, the number of grants awarded, and the educational progress made by individuals who have received the grants.
The six-member committee is made up of three senators appointed by the Lieutenant Governor and three representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House. Senator Rodney Ellis of Houston and Representative Henry Cuellar of Laredo co-chair the committee. Other members include: Senators Steve Ogden of College Station and Jeff Wentworth of San Antonio; and Representatives Geanie Morrison of Victoria and Irma Rangel of Kingsville.
All members and witnesses participating in today's meeting agreed on the benefits of the grant programs, and the importance of reaching out to more elementary and middle school students. The $100 million TEXAS Grant Program provides tuition and fees to high school students who have completed college preparatory courses in high school and maintain a 2.0 GPA or better in their first year of college. Texas ranks 48th in the nation in percent of high school students earning a college degree. The state needs to produce an additional 16,100 college graduates to come up to the national average, an increase of more than 20 percent.
The committee stands adjourned.
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