The Committee on Higher Education of the Texas House of Representatives launched its interim schedule of hearings on Feb. 24, with an examination of two official charges regarding the Closing the Gaps initiative and financial aid. The panel is chaired by Rep. Dan Branch (R-Dallas).
A number of invited witnesses testified on the progress Texas has made to become more competitive with other states in higher education. In a nutshell, according to Commissioner Raymund Paredes, the state has made great strides with Closing the Gaps, but still must improve to keep up with population trends, especially regarding Hispanics. As one witness put it, "The numbers are getting better, but not fast enough."
As reported here frequently, Texas lags behind other states in a host of educational categories, including the completion rates (especially "credentials awarded," at 46th in the nation, according to testimony) of those who enroll in community colleges. One lawmaker asked witness Woody Hunt, chair of the Governor's Business Council, whether the low ranking was because of students who enroll in college without any plans to earn a credential. (As educators know, some individuals enroll for self-enrichment or to advance their careers without seeking a certificate of any kind.) Mr. Hunt responded that the research of his organization has been unable to detect any difference between Texas and other states in this particular student practice. Also, virtually all community colleges in the U.S. are open admission institutions.
Recent efforts at improving the "college readiness" of high school students have been directed toward the goal of improving these statistics. End-of-course examinations and a more rigorous default curriculum have been enacted in recent years. Commissioner Paredes has repeatedly renewed his call for a funding formula that rewards completers of courses rather than enrollees. Future hearings will undoubtedly explore this matter further as the Regular Session approaches in January 2010.
The commissioner has also recommended a "complete overhaul" of developmental education and more reliance on academic merit in awarding financial aid to students. The latter proposal has drawn criticism from those who favor awarding grants based primarily upon financial need.
Members are urged to consult the TCCTA Blog frequently for updates, as interim hearings continue.
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