TITLE: Recognizing Excelencia in Education for its contributions.

SUMMARY: Recognizing Excelencia in Education for its contributions.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Excelencia in Education has demonstrated a long-standing and steadfast commitment to accelerating Latino student success; and WHEREAS, Excelencia in Education was founded in 2004 by Sarita Brown, a senior Fellow at the Pew Hispanic Center, and Deborah Santiago, vice president of data and policy analysis for the Los Angeles County Alliance for Student Achievement; focusing on data, the nonprofit organization has conducted research and sparked change with a series of important publications, beginning with the groundbreaking Latino Student Success at Hispanic-Serving Institutions: Findings from a Demonstration Project,released in connection with The University of Texas at El Paso; its report How Latino Students Pay for College: Patterns of Financial Aid in 2003-04 garnered national coverage by news outlets from NPR and the Washington Post to the Chronicle of Higher Education;and WHEREAS, With Ms. Santiago's 2009 report, Emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs),Excelencia popularized a phrase now firmly incorporated in the higher education lexicon; the organization created a key national resource, the "Growing What Works" database, and over the years, it has amplified its accomplishments by building a large network of results-oriented educators and policymakers; Excelencia was tapped to serve as an intermediary organization for Lumina Foundation Latino Student Success, a four-year, $12 million investment in 13 communities to increase the percentage of Latino students graduating from colleges and universities; in 2019, it established new standards by announcing the first nine institutions to be certified with its Seal of Excelencia,acknowledging their success in intentionally serving Latino students while serving all; and WHEREAS, Since its founding, Excelencia in Education has empowered countless Latino students to build an even brighter future for themselves and their communities, and the organization is indeed deserving of commendation for its myriad contributions; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas Legislature hereby recognize Excelencia in Education for its exemplary record of service and extend to all those associated with the organization sincere best wishes for continued success with their important work; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Excelencia in Education as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Neave Criado Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1263 was adopted by the House on April 25, 2023, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House