Saving The Top Ten
On Monday, the Texas House of Reps Committee on Higher Education heard testimony on eight bills regarding reform of the top ten percent law which guarantees admission to Texas Universities for all Texas high school seniors which graduate in the top ten percent of their high school class. In 2005 an attempt to hijack this law through legislation was thwarted through efforts of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus led at that time by Rep. Garnet Coleman (D-Houston) along with other Democratic House Members. Rumor has it that this effort has gained momentum during this legislative session as critics negate the need for the law since the US Supreme Court has ruled that race can be used as a factor in admissions. The immediate reality is that the law benefits rural pre-dominantly Caucasion high schools as equally as it benefits urban pre-dominantly African American high schools. Once again progress in this state which has benefited the African American community is at risk of being rolled back. Write or call your legislator and let them know that we support top ten percent. If your legislator is in favor of this law, then write or call Rep. Geanie Morrison, Chair of the House Committee of Higher Education, and let her as well as members of the committee know that we won’t allow progress to be rolled back in this state for communities of color.