[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 15 (Friday, February 15, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E173]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                EXEMPLARY HONORS FOR SOUTH TEXAS SCHOOLS

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                         HON. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 14, 2002

  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I want to share with my colleagues the 
incredible pride in my heart, pride for two schools in my hometown of 
Robstown, TX, the biggest little town in Texas.
  The Solomon P. Ortiz Intermediate School and the San Pedro Elementary 
School in the Robstown Independent School District were chosen by the 
Texas Education Agency (TEA) as ``Exemplary'' schools under the State 
analysis of individual schools in each school district in the state.
  Each year, the TEA ranks the state's schools as: low-performing, 
acceptable, recognized, or exemplary--based on performance on the Texas 
Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS, the test given to students in 
Texas) and on attendance and dropout rates.
  Both the Ortiz Intermediate School and San Pedro Elementary are 
schools with large Hispanic student populations. Since largely Hispanic 
schools often have to do more with less money, their challenge is 
greater to compete on a more difficult playing field.
  These two schools have found the secret to success. They know that 
students cannot just up and pass a difficult test--it takes the whole 
effort of every person who works at each school. It takes teachers, 
counselors, cafeteria workers, teacher's aids, and school 
administrators to make the very most of a child's educational 
experience.
  I want to thank each and every staff member for their vision on 
helping students on their journey to higher education.
  These schools capitalized on every single opportunity, every 
strength, they had to build a team that helped the children of Robstown 
find the very best in them. Let's not underestimate the stress 
associated with the TAAS. There is great pressure on the children, on 
the schools, on the employees--judgements on the school staff is based 
on the results young people achieve on TAAS.
  Teaching children what they need to know to pass the tests, inspiring 
them to come to school every day, inspiring them to stay in school when 
they despair, is a monumental task. So the House of Representatives 
should know that these schools have achieved a great deal.
  I ask my colleagues to join me today in commending the Ortiz 
Intermediate School and San Pedro Elementary School of Robstown, TX, 
for excellence in education.

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