Access to Education
In the 2009-2010 CFED Assets & Opportunity Scorecard, Texas received a “D” in Education. In fact, Texas ranks in the bottom tier for high school degree attainment and Head Start coverage. The Expanding Access to Education campaign’s primary goal is to build support for policies and programs that facilitate broader access to post-secondary education and training, including college savings accounts, affordable student loans, workforce development, student support services, and enhanced financial aid resources and outreach. More broadly, this campaign will seek to identify initiatives to facilitate more high school and college degree completion.
Goals for this campaign are:
- Our immediate short-term goal is to secure (private and public) funding for Children’s Savings Accounts (CSAs).
- Our long-term goal is to reduce the leaky pipeline from 9th grade to post-secondary graduation.
Results from the 81st Legislature Regular Session in 2009
In the 2009 legislative session, there were two important bills proposed around the idea of expanding access to education. Below is a list of the bills and the legislative stage that they reached.
Bill vetoed by the Governor:
- SB 1760 filed by Senator Kirk Watson provides funding for the Texas Save and Match program for children's savings accounts for post-secondary education.
Bill that was proposed but not passed:
- SB 2025 filed by Senator Kirk Watson establishes a reward and incentive program for certain economically disadvantaged students for the Texas Tuition Promise Fund for post-secondary education.