DOCUMENT RESUME ED 351 120 PS 020 819 TITLE Early
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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 351 120 PS 020 819 TITLE Early Childhood Education Issues in Texas: Implications for Civil Rights. A Summary Report. INSTITUTION Texas State Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, Austin. SPONS AGENCY Commission on Civil Rights, Washington, D.C. PUB DATE Apr 90 NOTE 78p. PUB TYPE Reports General (140) Viewpoints (Opinion/Position Papers, Essays, etc.) (120) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC04 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Access to Education; Children; *Civil Rights; *Early Childhood Education; Educational Opportunities; *Equal Education; Grade Repetition; Hi/h Risk Students; *Minority Group Children; Poverty; Public Education; Public Schools IDENTIFIERS Commission on Civil Rights; *Texas ABSTRACT The Texas Advisory Committee to the U. S. Commission on Civil Rights conducted a public forum and gathered information on the extent to which early childhood education programs have affected equal educational opportunities for minority students in Texas. The hearings were held in response to the failure of public education systems to meet the needs of minority youth and to research the documents discrepancies between minority students and other students in educational outcomes. Summaries of statements of 13 school superintendents and administrators, representatives of the state board of education, educational research experts, directors of parenting and early childhood programs, and other concerned individuals reveal the bleak picture of the status of minorities in Texas public schools. It is noted that dropout rates and achievement levels continue to indicate disparities in educational opportunities. The speakers agree that helping children and their families is a significant imperative in the process of overcoming discrimination and assuring equal educational opportunities. Recommendations included the development of:(1) public policy that is beneficial to families and children in poverty; and (2) strategies that assure that minority children enter into an appropriate, multicultural educational process.(SM) Repro4uctions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ''t *********************************************************************** P U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION been made to improve (=Ace of Educabona. Reseatcn and Invroverneni O lvt.no. changes have reproductIon (lushly EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER IERICI opn.onS statedIn.2 dor.' Points ol vew represent 011.c:at *Ain,s document nas Peen reproduced as ment do not neCessarrly ece.wed oon tne person or orgaruzabon OERI position or policy onginanng rl EARLYCHILDHOOD EDUCATION ISSUES IN TEXAS: IMPLICATIONS FOR CIVIL RIGHTS TEXASADVISORY COMMITTEE TO THE UNITED STATES COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS This surnmary report of the Texas Adutsory Committee to the United States Corrunission on CUL Rights was prepared for the irtformation and consideration of theCOITIMLII- MOMStatements and viewpoints in the report should not be attributed to the CorrinitiltiOn or b the Ad- visory Committee. but only to in- diutawil participants in the conv mw-diy fawn where ths inginnation was gathered POI A SUMMARY REPORT APRIL 1990 2 BEST COPY AVAILABLE EARLYCHILDHOOD EDUCATION ISSUES IN TEXAS: IMPLICATIONS FOR CIVIL RIGHTS TEXASADVISORY COMMITIEE TO THE UNITED STATES COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS A SUMMARY REPORT APRIL 1990 THE UNITED STATES COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS The United States Commission on Civil Rights, first created by the Civil Rights Act of 1957, and reestablished by the United States Commission on Civil Rights Act of 1983, is an independent, bipartisan agency of the Federal Government. By the terms of the 1983 act, the Commission is charged with the following duties pertaining to discrimination or denials of the equal protection of the laws based on race,color, religion, sex, age, handicap, or national origin, or in the administration of justice; investigation of individual discriminatory denials of the right to vote; study of legal developments with respect to discrimination or denials of the equal protection of the law; appraisal of the laws and policies of the United States with respect todiscrimination or denials of equal protectionsof the law; maintenance of a national clearinghouse for information respecting discrimination or denials of equal protection of the law; and investigation of patterns or practices or fraud or discrimination in the conduct of Federal elections. The Commission is also required to submit reports to thePresident and the Congress,..at such time as the Commission, theCongress, or the President shall deemdesireable. THE STATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE An Advisory Committee to the United StatesCommission on Civil Rights has been established in each ofthe 50 States and the District of Columbia pursuant to section105(c) of the Civil Rights Act of 1957 and section 6(c) of theUnited States Commission on Civil Rights of 1983. The Advisory Committees are made up of responsible personswho serve without compensation. Their functions under their mandatefrom the Commission are to: advise the Commission of allrelevant information concerning their respectiveStates on matters within the jurisdiction of theCommission; advise the Commission on matters of mutual concernin the preparation of reports of the Commission to thePresident and the Uonyress; receive reports, suggestions; andrecommendations from individuals, public and privateorganizations, and public officials upon matters pertinent toinquiries conducted by the State Advisory_Committee;initiate and forward advice and recommendations to the Commission upon mattersin which the Commission shall request theassistance of the State Advisory Committee; and attend, as observers, anyopen hearing or conference which the Commission mayhold within the State. Early Childhood Education Issues in Texas: Implications for Civil Rights Texas Advisory Committee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights This summary report of the Texas Advisory Committee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights was prepared for the information and consideration of the Commission. Statements and viewpoints in the report should not be attributed to the Commission or the Advisory Committee, but only to individual participants in the community forum where the information is gathered. Texas Advisory Committee Adolfo P. Canales, Chairperson Dallas Maria A. Berriozabal Manuel Pacheco San Antonio Houston Denzer Burke Edmund W, Robb, Jr. ** Texarkana Marshall Florida Cornelius-Cooper* Milton I. Tobian Missouri City Dallas Jose Garcia de Lara Luis A. Velarde, Jr. San Antonio El Paso Lino A. Graglia Thomas G. West Austin Irving Lynn Lipshy Dallas *Appointed to Advisory Committee following completion ofthis report **Resigned prior to preparation of this report Acknowledgements The Texas Advisory Committee wishes to thankstaff of the Commission's Western Regional Division for itshelp in the preparation of these proceedings. The project was the principal assignment of John F. Dulles II,with support from Grace Hernandez and Prisci'lla Lee Herring. The project was carried out under the overall supervision ofPhilip Montez, Director, Western Regional Division. UNITED STATES 1121 Vermont Avenue, N.W. COMMISSION ON Washington, D.C. 20425 CIVIL RIGHTS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION Arthur A. Fletcher, Chairman William B. Allen Carl A. Anderson Mary Frances Berry Esther G. Buckley Blandina C. Ramirez Russell G. Redenbaugh Wilfredo J. Gonzalez, Staff Director Attached is a summary report based on a public forum convened by the Texas Advisory Committee on May 20, 1989, in Dallas. The purpose of the forum was to gather information on civil rights impacts of early childhood education programs. Specifically, the Committee was interested in determining the extent to which such programs might affect equal educational opportunities for minorities in Texas. The Advisory Committee sought a balanced perspective on this subject and invited a cross-section of knowledgeable persons to address the forum. These included school superintendents and administrative personnel, representatives of the state board of education, educational research experts, directors of parenting and early childhood programs, and other concerned individuals. The Committee was also honored to have present at the forum, Commissioners Esther G. Buckley and Sherwin T.S. Chan. Their interest in this significant activity of the Texas Advisory Committee was very much appreciated. By a vote of 9 to 1, the Advisory Committee approved submission of this report to the Commissioners. The Committee hopes this document will be of value to the Commission and that educational issues receive its close attention. The Committee is convinced that the goal of equal educational opportunities for all, as yet an unredeemed goal, is worthy of our nation's greatest endeavors. 2 Based on information gathered at theforum, the Advisory Committee is further convinced thatimproving educational opportunities for minorities depends inlarge measure on providing appropriate programs and resources inthe formative years of a child's development. The Commission may wish to examine this further with additional research andfactfinding throughout the country. Respectfully, Adolfo P. Canales, Chairperson Texas Advisory CommiTTee Table of Contents Letter of Transmittal I. Introduction and Background 1 II. Summary of the Forum 13 Dr. Gloria Zamora, Director of Educational Equity, Intercultural Development Research Association 13 Dr. Lois Harrison-Jones, Associate Superintendent