Education
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San Antonio, TX – Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) announced two federal grants from the U.S. Department of Education totaling $500,000.00 to the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). UTSA will receive funding under the Upward Bound Program, which provides key opportunities for students to succeed in the pursuit of higher education. Upward Bound is one of eight federal TRIO Programs. TRIO aids students from disadvantaged backgrounds, including low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities.
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), founding co-chair of the Congressional Pre-K Caucus, introduced legislation that will help eligible local education entities across the country access federal prekindergarten (pre-k) funding. The Pre-K for USA Act provides school districts with a direct line to federal funding, eliminating their reliance on states to access federal pre-k dollars.
Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), founding co-chair of the Congressional Pre-K Caucus, introduced legislation to ensure pre-k teachers who spend personal funds on classroom supplies receive the same tax deductions as K-12 teachers. The Pre-K Teacher Parity Act, H.R. 1013, amends the educator expense deduction to include early childhood educators, providing them with a $250 deduction for certain teaching expenses.
I joined Dr. Nicole Hurd and my brother Secretary Julián Castro to speak with an inspiring group of National College Advising Corps advisers who are working in communities across the nation to help young people achieve their dreams of going to college.
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) announced an eight-year, federal grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services expected to total $5,292,000.00 for The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). UTSA will receive the grant through the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), which aims to reduce the burden of neurological disease by supporting and conducting neuroscience research.
Congressman Eric Swalwell and I had a productive conversation with San Antonio students and recent college graduates about what their greatest hopes and concerns are as millennials. Much of our discussion focused on the burden of student debt and the need to make college more affordable. Rep. Swalwell and I plan to take what we heard back to Congress and will use San Antonio young people’s feedback as we develop policies that support the next generation of American workers and leaders.
I was glad to congratulate SAReads on holding a successful book drive this summer. The more opportunities our kids have to read, the stronger their educational foundations become, and the brighter their futures will be.
At an AtlanticLIVE briefing this morning, Congressman Buddy Carter, Steven Clemons, and I had a great discussion highlighting the bipartisan support that exists throughout the country for early education. Expanding our kids’ access to high-quality pre-kindergarten programs is an American priority that I’m proud to promote as a founding co-chair of the Congressional Pre-K Caucus.
Washington, D.C. – Congressmen Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Filemon Vela (TX-34) together released the following statement regarding the Mexican-American history textbook considered during a public hearing before the Texas State Board of Education today:
Thank you to my fellow Pre-K Caucus co-chair Congresswoman Katherine Clark and panelists from Champions for America's Future, PBS KIDS, and Reach Out and Read for participating in today’s event on the importance of early learning both in and outside the classroom.