Tuesday, February 18, 2014. 2 pm:
Phone conference with TX SBOE rep
Ruben Cortez, Jr., Brownsville, District 2
(Finalizing details. Contact Tony Diaz or Juan Tejeda for call-in #.)

MAS Texas Strategy meeting:
Thursday, Feb. 20 2014. 2-5pm,
Live Oak Hall, Rm. 115 Northwest Vista College
NACCS Tejas Foco
Guest: TX SBOE rep
Marisa B. Perez, San Antonio, District 3
Invite people!

• We must organize scholars, professionals, politicos, students, and community in every one of the 15 TX SBOE districts.

• We must prepare a NACCS Tejas Foco resolution.
• We must tie-in Cesar Chavez birthday and film release activities to organize to demand M.A.S. in Texas Schools.
• Ruben Cortez is preparing a resolution for School Districts to sign demanding M.A.S. Please be ready to get your local school districts to sign on.
  
• Send more ideas!
  

The Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) must make a vote on M.A.S. an action item for their next meeting April 8 - 10 in Austin, Texas. 

Updated by Tony Diaz, El Librotraficante AztecMuse@aol.com

www.MASTexas.org

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State Tejano Democrats, which is a state-wide organization with member chapters throughout Texas, assert this Resolution in Support of Mexican American Studies & Courses in Texas

 Whereas,  Latinos are the fastest growing demographic in Texas to such a degree that in such places as Houston, Texas, Latinos are over 40% of the population, but moreover every 1 in 4 inhabitants of Houston is either Mexican or Mexican American; and in Dallas County Latinos are 38.9% of the population; and

 Whereas,  Latinos comprise the majority population of many major school districts to such an extent that the Houston Independent School District, which consists of over 200,000 and over 50% or 100,000 are Latino, and in other school districts such as Dallas Independent School District Hispanics comprise nearly 70% of the 157,000 student population;

 Whereas, Hispanics constitute over 50% of the 4.9 million students in Texas public schools; and

 Whereas,  Latinos continue to be underserved in the areas of family engagement; and there are not enough culturally relevant courses for Latinos; and these factors result in Latino youth forming a large part of the dropout rate; and

 Whereas,  the Mexican American Studies program at Tucson Unified School District resulted in a 93% graduation rate; and according to current policies and laws, Mexican American History and Mexican American Literature among other Mexican American Studies (MAS) courses ARE eligible for SBOE endorsement; and

 Whereas,  under Texas HB5, school districts beginning in October of 2015 will be given letter grades based on such things as graduation rates and also family engagement, areas where the needs of Latino youth are not fully understood or catered to; and

 Whereas, the UT Young Conservatives “Catch an Illegal Immigrant” game was proof that Texas needs Mexican American Studies.  That was a great example of how a life can be changed by taking a Mexican American Studies course or two to help all students learn how to thrive in a multicultural world; and

Whereas, implementing culturally and historically relevant texts is already written into Texas standards via the TEKS-Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills,

Whereas, Mexican American Studies has been and should continue to be established as a field of study in Texas. Implementing culturally and historically relevant texts is already written into Texas standards via the TEKS-Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills.

Therefore be it resolved, the State Tejano Democrats urge the Texas State Board of Education to add Mexican American Studies to courses that fulfill dual credit for the English IV option, Special Topics in Social Studies, and Independent Study in English. This includes Mexican American Studies as an Advanced Course. Also, we demand that MAS courses that meet the criteria be added to the Arts and Humanities endorsement. (This does not have to be dual credit.)

We demand that History be added to the Arts and Humanities endorsement. Mexican American History must be listed for the History component.

Mexican American Studies should be explicitly listed as a Cultural and Linguistic Topic which falls under Language Other Than English.

Approved this the 14^th day of December 2013 in an active meeting of the State Executive Committee of State Tejano Democrats in Austin, Texas.

Copies of this resolution shall be sent to the State Board of Education Members and to the Commissioner of the Texas Education Agency.

This Resolution will take effect immediately.

Othon Medina, Jr., Chairman, State Tejano Democrats

The Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) must make a vote on M.A.S. an action item for their next meeting April 8 - 10 in Austin, Texas.

www.MASTexas.org

Shortened link to this blogpost for easier social media use: http://bit.ly/M2PMMN

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This is a quick update on the status of M.A.S. after the Texas 
State Board of Education meeting. Expect an updated 
press release Monday, Feb. 3, 2014.

The TX SBOE did not vote on MAS Friday, Jan. 31. 

Tea Party rep Barbara Cargill TX SBOE chair blocked 
voting on MAS in April, too. 

As chair she sets the agenda. She must making voting on the 
curriculum an action item at the next meeting April 8-10. 
Democrat SBOE rep Ruben Cortez wants a vote. The 
Republican Party must not shut down Mexican American 
History and culture. We should get to see the SBOE vote. 

Please come back Monday for our updated press release and 
stay in touch as we are organizing for the next step in April. 

This website, this blog, and also NP Radio are the best ways 
to stay updated.

NP Radio: Nuestra Palabra: Latino Writers Having Their Say 
Tuesdays 6p-7p 90.1FM KPFT, Houston, TX
www.kpft.org


www.mastexas.org

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This is a rare opportunity to make history for our History.

Due to bad weather, the Texas Education Agency is accepting your testimony via email. Send them a note to support Mexican American Studies by the end of today (our deadline) and demand that they reschedule in-person testimony as well.

Send your email to: sboesupport@tea.state.tx.us

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Texas, Please call your Texas State Board of Education Representative.

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