[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 48 (Thursday, March 22, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E418]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN RECOGNITION OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF SAN JACINTO COLLEGE AND GULF 
                            COAST PASS GRANT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GENE GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 22, 2012

  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
contributions of San Jacinto College, a Hispanic-Serving Institution 
and community college located in our district which is celebrating its 
50th anniversary this year.
  The mission of San Jacinto College is to deliver accessible, 
affordable, high-quality post-secondary education programs designed to 
meet the needs of the residents of Harris County.
  The primary focus of the College is helping students to achieve their 
personal and professional goals, create seamless transitions among 
educational levels, and to prepare students to enter the job market or 
transfer to senior institutions. Through its programs and services, and 
partnerships with industry, the College supports the economic growth of 
the community and the region.
  San Jacinto College recently received a grant that will fund 
collaborative programs with local secondary school districts focused on 
increasing college readiness and completion of community college 
developmental education courses. The grant, provided through the 
Community College Leadership Program at the University of Texas at 
Austin, was made possible by The Houston Endowment.
  The $1.2 million, three year grant, known as the Gulf Coast Partners 
Achieving Students Success, or Gulf Coast PASS, will help San Jacinto 
College and its partners, Pasadena and Sheldon Independent School 
Districts, ISDs, expand existing projects and implement new 
partnerships. Special focus will aim to increase college readiness and 
completion of community college development education courses where 
necessary.
  With the help of these funds, San Jacinto College is partnering with 
local ISDs to start up two early college high schools, one with 
Pasadena ISD and another with Sheldon ISD. The Sheldon ISD Early 
College High School will open in Fall 2012.
  The Texas Education Administration states that early college high 
schools must provide access to under-represented populations, lower 
socio-economic students, and first-in-college students to provide a 
pathway for higher education attainment for these students who would be 
less likely to pursue higher education.
  Our nation must do more to close the gaps between secondary and post-
secondary education in the areas of academic experiences, expectations, 
and curriculum. San Jacinto College is committed to bridging these gaps 
by facilitating communication and collaboration between high school and 
college faculty to identify these gaps locally.
  In order for our students to make the successful transition from high 
school to some kind of post-secondary experience, the College and our 
school districts must intentionally design programs that address those 
gaps. We must commit to creating multiple pathways to student success 
and completion of post-secondary credentials.
  I am proud to rise to commend the work of San Jacinto College, which 
provides a model of excellence in higher education for the people of 
Harris County and the nation.

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