AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas at Austin has joined public schools and corporate sponsors in forming Texas PREP (Partners Responding to Educational Priorities), an educational partnership designed to support and enhance recently passed legislation, House Bill 588, which guarantees automatic admissions for the top 10 percent of Texas high school graduates. The bill was signed into law by Gov. George W. Bush on May 10, 1997.
UT Austin’s Office of the Vice President for Administration and Public Affairs and the College of Liberal Arts, the Dallas Public Schools and Bank of America formed the educational partnership in a attempt to further extend the concept of university/public school/corporate partnerships.
Texas PREP will assist the top 10 percent students in targeted Dallas public high schools by providing them with pre-collegiate instruction designed to improve their specific, as well as general, academic skills in preparation for entry into a college or university in the fall of 1998.
Working with Texas Sen. Royce West of the 23rd Senatorial District, which includes the target Dallas public schools, the University has designed an innovative instructional program that will not only enrich the academic preparation of these students identified as top 10 percent May ’98 graduates, but also will enhance their academic environment. In addition, Project PREP will assist high school classroom teachers in the implementation of an academic program that will augment the high school curriculum.
By working closely with district superintendents, principals and guidance counselors, Project Texas PREP also will serve to motivate and guide students with regard to the importance of academic preparation, assessing their academic potential, and knowing college entrance requirements.
This innovative pre-collegiate endeavor, part of the University Scholars Program at UT Austin, provides a direct link between the University, corporations and public schools, and engages UT Austin faculty, public school counselors and administrators, high school teachers and corporations in addressing key educational issues relating to pre-collegiate preparation, academic excellence, teacher enhancement and equity for all public school students.
Formal announcement of Project PREP will take place at a reception to be hosted by Bank of America, UT Austin and the Dallas Public Schools Tuesday (Dec. 16) at 5 p.m. at Kimball High School. West will be the keynote speaker, and will address the top 10 percent students and their parents.
For more information regarding Project PREP and other UT/public school/corporate collaborative efforts, contact Robert R. Galvan, Ph.D., Office of the Vice President for Administration and Public Affairs, The University of Texas at Austin, (512) 475-6061.
