Drop-Out Rate a Crisis for Texas

“According to education experts a least half of all high school students in the states urban school districts are dropping out of school and the rate is highest among blacks, Hispanics, and low-income students. In statistics released by the Intercultural Development Research Center statewide, each graduating class has at least 120,000 fewer students than started high school.

Rebeca Huffman, President and CEO, Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational Options (CREO) reports that “in a school choice environment the drop out rate will be cut in half, which means returning $365 billion to Texas public education and keeping 60,000 students in school each year.” She states that “when parents have a choice and use that choice to send their children to better schools, research shows children succeed. School choice allows parents to break the cycle of mediocrity in their families and steer their children toward success.”

Rep. Rick Noriega, D-Houston reports that state leaders are aware of the problem but are focusing their attention on other issues. Huffman says that state leaders need to listen to Rep. Noriega. “He apparently gets it and seems to be prepared to tackle the problem head on. We are prepared to stand with him in this important effort.”

While many believe that school choice won’t lower the dropout rate CREO cites two recently released studies, “The High Cost of Failing to Reform Public Education in Indiana,” and “The High Cost of Failing to Reform Public Education in Missouri,” which show that school choice does reduce drop-outs.

On February 7, 2007, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. an education freedom rally will be held on behalf of Texas children on the steps of the Capitol. John Stossel of ABC News will be among the featured speakers. Hispanic CREO is organizing the effort with Texans for School Choice and other organizations as well as parents, children, teachers, and faith-based organizations to reinforce a message to Texas Legislators that our children need to have access to a broader range of public and private schools in order to improve their chances for success in life.

The Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational Options (CREO) was founded to address the crisis in Latino education by empowering Latino families with parental choice in education. By creating coalitions with parents, schools, faith-based organizations, advocates and like-minded groups, Hispanic CREO has been able to educate, inform and mobilize Latino parents on the issues surrounding school choice. Hispanic CREO’s central purpose remains educational but central to its educational mission is empowering parents with the knowledge and tools they need to advocate for them, their children, and their community.

Hispanic CREO’s mission is to improve educational outcomes for Hispanic children by empowering families through parental choice in education. We achieve this by providing parents with free information and resources, which help them become self-advocates for their children. CREO is a non-profit, non-partisan organization. “CREO” is Spanish for “I believe.”

To schedule an interview with Rebeca Huffman, President and CEO Hispanic CREO, contact: Margaret Garcia, (210) 226-2827.”

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