<p>bandit_TX</p>
<p>According to Tyler Lewis (article dated July 11, 2007)</p>
<p>“The ‘Top 10 percent’ plan was adopted in 1997, after the federal appeals court decision in Hopwood v. Texas banned affirmative action programs in the state, and was designed to promote diversity at Texas state colleges and universities. Under the plan, Texas high school students who graduate in the top 10 percent of their class are automatically admitted to a state institution of their choice.” </p>
<p>Full article at :
<a href=“http://www.civilrights.org/press_room/buzz_clips/civilrightsorg-stories/texas-top-10-percent-plan.html[/url]”>http://www.civilrights.org/press_room/buzz_clips/civilrightsorg-stories/texas-top-10-percent-plan.html</a></p>
<p>As this article acknowleges, the uncapped commitment to place all students in the top 10% of their class in a state college has taxed the system.</p>
<p>Prior to the 10% rule, the urban and/or surburban “prep” level public high schools (Highland Park, some Plano and Coppell just being a few examples in North Texas) funnelled UT-Austin etc. a great number of students with high stats (SAT’s, # of AP’s) many of whom could pay their own way. </p>
<p>Now it is the rank in the student’s class that is the “ticket” into the Texas state college system. That shifted the admitted students towards lower economic students. With more students accepted from lower income families due to the 10% rule, there is a greater demand for “aid.” </p>
<p>The 10% rule also created a greater need for the colleges to offer and require remedial classes to get many of the top 10% from non-prep public school systems up to a level where they could compete at the college level. This in part accounts for the substantail increase in the cost to go to these state schools and with rising costs it has become more difficult for the middle economic level students to afford college.</p>
<p>The legislature has seen fit this year to fund the grants for low income freshmen students but renege on the “loans” to middle class freshmen.</p>
<p>This was a direct result of Hopwood v. Texas. Before Hopwood, the system could prefer lesser qualified black student applicants over more qualified white and non protected non white applicants. Now, the system cannot take more qualified students of any race over those that were in the top 10% of a HS, even if less qualified.</p>
<p>The economic fallout of the change brought about by Hopwood v. Texas is what this thread is about.</p>