Thread: Texas offers Mexican students classes in Spanish

AUSTIN -- Spanish-speaking students in South Texas will have the opportunity to take Mexican high school courses online under a program devised by the University of Texas and Mexican education agencies.


The program will be piloted this fall in the Donna and Edcouch-Elsa school districts in Hidalgo County. It will enable students to use computers to study math and science courses in Spanish, while they learn English and social studies in their Texas schools.

Proponents say the program could help reduce the dropout rate among high school students who become frustrated with the language barrier.

"Generally they drop out because they can't pass courses and get frustrated not knowing the language and sitting in classrooms. This is an incentive for them to at least see something they're passing," said Felipe Alanis, an associate dean of UT's Division of Continuing Education and former Texas education commissioner.

The students will be able to use the Spanish-language curriculum to supplement courses they are taking in English or even to complete a course, although they must take the final exam in English to receive Texas credit.

Students could potentially receive their diplomas from Mexico, which would allow them to attend a community college in Texas.

Organizers say participating students could include immigrants, students whose families are migrant workers or American students from Spanish-speaking homes.

William Powers Jr., president of UT-Austin, signed the educational agreement this month with Mexican education officials, including the director of a high school program offering online courses and a top administrator of adult education.

The agreement also will help Texas educators place older students in the proper grade by considering their transcripts from Mexico. Alanis said high school-age immigrant students are routinely placed in the ninth grade regardless of their academic standing.

Alanis said the program is the result of "nine months of intensive talks," including work to align Texas and Mexican curriculum in math and science.

As part of the pilot program, the participating school districts each received a $500,000 federal grant to buy computers, pay for the online programs and train teachers.

Educators in South Texas said the language barrier can be particularly difficult for older students.

"This program will give them access to the translation of the language," said Minerva Guerra-Gonzalez, special populations director for Edcouch-Elsa. "The barrier of the language is what keeps them behind sometimes."

Alanis said it's a coincidence that the program is beginning during a national debate over immigration policy.

"This is not to encourage immigration," he said. "These kids are in our schools now, and schools are needing help with this population."

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Information from: Houston Chronicle,

As part of the pilot program, the participating school districts each received a $500,000 federal grant to buy computers, pay for the online programs and train teachers.

Don't want my tax dollars going for a "special" group that just keeps them from assimilating. Offer a "learn English" class instead of this.

It would seem that the Legal American Taxpayer is to once again foot the Bill and be responsible for the Poor Illegal Aliens or the Spanish speaking people that just cant seem to learn in Our countries language. I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop when Vincinta Fox asks for toilet paper and people to wipe their rears with because they just cant get it done themselves.

Organizers say participating students could include immigrants, students whose families are migrant workers or American students from Spanish-speaking homes.

I lived in El Paso so not surprised by any of this. When they say "could include" this really means illegals will be taking these classes. They have been going to school everyday from Juarez to El Paso side for years. So, just another tax bill for the property owners of Texas. That's why Texas has one of the highest property tax rates in the US. Our property tax rate in California was half what it was when we lived in Texas.....and California is high.

That's why Texas has one of the highest property tax rates in the US. Our property tax rate in California was half what it was when we lived in Texas.....and California is high.

I have long thought that. We have an older (100 year old) home. A real fixer upper. Since we have bought it, the property taxes have quadrupled. We have not done that much to increase the price, except paint the exterior. It is valued at almost twice what anyone has offered for it.

The federal government has cut back drastically on what it was supposed to send the states to reimburse them for certain 'mandates'. That left the states high and dry.

There is something going on about property taxes here in TExas, I haven't had time to really study it - but any change is usually for the worse.

The main thing I know about property taxes in Texas is that they cannot get the money from State Income tax because too many illegals do not pay tax, so they tax the only people they can...the legal property owners. This pays for all of the free services that illegals get. Any place that has high influx of illegals has high property tax....someone has to pay for the free services.

So much for the myth that illegal labor is a benefit.

Originally Posted by AllAmerican

The main thing I know about property taxes in Texas is that they cannot get the money from State Income tax because too many illegals do not pay tax, so they tax the only people they can...the legal property owners. This pays for all of the free services that illegals get. Any place that has high influx of illegals has high property tax....someone has to pay for the free services.

So much for the myth that illegal labor is a benefit.

Maybe if the morons would stop voting for these do nothings in empty suits than maybe your property taxes wouldn't be so high.

The next step after high school:

In SA 4188 Specter and Kennedy have submitted a grant program that would be funded by the US Taxpayer. In essence it is for the purposes of restructuring, and deregulation, so that transnational corporations can conduct their business unfettered by Mexico's Elites. Don't be fooled by the feel-good insert on "rural poverty". The Us Gov't already knows the situation in Mexico- and NAFTA has proven without a doubt how much they really give a damn about Mexico's poor. This is all about sweeping away the last vestiges of independence there to further the globalist takeover of Mexico.

SEC. 646. ADDRESSING POVERTY IN MEXICO.
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following:
(1) There is a strong correlation between economic freedom and economic prosperity.
(2) Trade policy, fiscal burden of government, government intervention in the economy, monetary policy, capital flows and foreign investment, banking and finance, wages and prices, property rights, regulation, and
informal market activity are key factors in economic freedom.
(3) Poverty in Mexico, including rural poverty, can be mitigated through strengthened economic freedom within Mexico.
(4) Strengthened economic freedom in Mexico can be a major influence in mitigating illegal immigration.
(5) Advancing economic freedom within Mexico is an important part of any comprehensive plan to understanding the sources of poverty and the path to economic prosperity.
(b) GRANT AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary of State may award a grant to a land grant university in the United States to establish a national program for a broad, universitybased Mexican rural poverty mitigation program.
(c) FUNCTIONS OF MEXICAN RURAL POVERTY
MITIGATION PROGRAM.—The program established pursuant to subsection (b) shall—
(1) match a land grant university in the United States with the lead Mexican public university in each of Mexico’s 31 states to
provide state-level coordination of rural poverty programs in Mexico;(2) establish relationships and coordinate programmatic ties between universities in the United States and universities in Mexico
to address the issue of rural poverty in Mexico;
(3) establish and coordinate relationships with key leaders in the United States and Mexico to explore the effect of rural poverty
on illegal immigration of Mexicans into the United States; and
(4) address immigration and border security concerns through a university-based, binational approach for long-term institutional
change.
(d) USE OF FUNDS.—
(1) AUTHORIZED USES.—Grant funds awarded
under this section may be used—
(A) for education, training, technical assistance, and any related expenses (including personnel and equipment) incurred by the
grantee in implementing a program described in subsection (a); and
(B) to establish an administrative structure for such program in the United States.
(2) LIMITATIONS.—Grant funds awarded under this section may not be used for activities, responsibilities, or related costs incurred
by entities in Mexico.
(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—
There are authorized to be appropriated such funds as may be necessary to carry out this section.

Maybe if the morons would stop voting for these do nothings in empty suits than maybe your property taxes wouldn't be so high.

I agree. I don't live in Texas anymore but maybe they will finally learn...not counting George of course....he's not even smart enough to know he is supposed to be the defender of the USA not Mexico.