Friends of Texas Public Schools

News Release

Business Group Names its Honor Roll Schools
October 10, 2006

The Texas Business and Education Coalition (TBEC) announced today that 268 public schools across the state had earned recognition on the 2006 TBEC Honor Roll.

“Schools get on our Honor Roll the old fashioned way,” said Jack Lowe, Chairman of TDIndustries in Dallas and TBEC’s Business Co-chair, “they earn it. For us the bottom-line is results. These schools help all students do well in all subjects.”

TBEC identifies the Honor Roll schools by analyzing three years of performance data for all Texas public schools. A school must have a high percentage of students meeting state standards on the TAKS tests in all subjects for three consecutive years, with an emphasis on how many students score at the state’s highest standard – commended – on all tests. Selection criteria account also for each school’s student demographics, the number of subjects tested and the grades served.

“This year’s Honor Roll Schools have achieved performance levels higher than any one could anticipate when the TAKS testing began four years ago,” said Mike McGuire President of Chemshare Corporation in Port LaVaca who heads up TBEC’s Honor Roll committee. “The success of these schools demonstrates that setting high standards and raising expectations for all students is an effective tool in raising performance.”

“We are so excited to be named to the TBEC Honor Roll again ,” said Yvonne Zamora, Principal of Mims Elementary School in Mission. “Our staff, students and parents work so hard to make this happen, giving 200% every day. Our efforts pay off and students get the education they deserve. If our students succeed, then we succeed.”

Representatives from the Honor Roll Schools will gather in Austin on December 4 and 5, 2006 for a Sharing Seminar in which “the best learn from the best,” followed by a reception and awards dinner. Because of a significant increase in the number of schools making the Honor Roll in 2006, TBEC found it necessary to hold separate award events for elementary and secondary schools on successive days.

TBEC volunteers will present the Honor Roll banner to each school at a local ceremony so that students, parents, teachers and staff, and members of the community can join in the celebration. The volunteers also tour the school, visit classrooms and talk with students and staff.

After visiting an Honor Roll school in Dallas that serves primarily African-American students, Tom Trotter, IBM Director of Corporate Community Relations for North America Operations said, “I was blown away by the excellence of this school. It’s the kind of school you’d want your children or your grandchildren to attend. I only wish more people could see first hand the great things they do for kids.”

“We know there are great public schools in Texas,” said John Stevens, Executive Director of TBEC, “but most of them don’t get the recognition they deserve, even in their own communities. We decided to find all of them that consistently perform to very high standards. These 2006 Honor Roll Schools are models from which the rest of the system can learn how to educate all kids.”

In its seventh year, the Honor Roll program is underwritten by HEB, IBM and Washington Mutual, with support provided also by other business and education organizations that participate in TBEC.

For more information call: Laraine Johnston at TBEC, 512/480-8232