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Published
by the Corpus Christi Caller-Times. CLICK FOR NEWSPAPER DELIVERY
Thursday, June 28, 2001
Bill requires college counseling
Governor says legislation will help more Texans attend college
By Paula Caballero
Caller-Times
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George Gongora/Caller-Times
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Gov. Rick Perry (right) talks Wednesday with Calallen seniors (from left) Ashley Whipple, Trisha Thomas and Heather Roecker; and Arthur Uehlinger, school board president. Perry signed Senate Bill 158.
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Surrounded by group of students at Calallen High School, Gov. Rick Perry on Wednesday signed Senate Bill 158, which will require schools to counsel all students about higher education opportunities.
Perry said he hoped the bill would help students embrace the value of higher education.
"Senate Bill 158 will become a very important tool in getting that message out and helping more young Texans attend college," Perry said.
Bill author Sen. Carlos F. Truan, D-Corpus Christi, said he hopes this legislation will help decrease what he called a horrendous dropout rate.
"We cannot afford to have that," Truan said. "Nowadays when we're competing worldwide in this global economy, we must prepare all young people to compete, not only with their classmates today, but people from other countries in the future. And I should say the future is now."
Truan said this bill will force public schools and higher education institutions to work together to map out a plan for students from kindergarten through college graduation.
"For some reason, the people in public education think their responsibility is for the student in public education, and people in higher education feel their role is for the students going to college," Truan said. "There needs to be a coordination of efforts."
The Special Commission on 21st Century Colleges and Universities, which Truan was a part of, initially recommended the concept behind Senate Bill 158. The commission, created by Perry when he was lieutenant governor, found that many Texas students did not receive adequate information regarding higher education opportunities or standards that must be met to qualify for financial assistance.
Contact Paula Caballero at 886-3758 or caballerop@caller.com
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