Contact: Anthony de Bruyn, (512) 499-4363

Date: March 22, 2004

UT System News Media Advisory

TWO EVENTS

Tuesday News Conference: New On-line Assistance for TAKS Test

State and university officials will hold a news conference in Austin at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 23, to announce a free, on-line program to assist high school students in getting ready to take the TAKS exit test. The news conference will be in Hill Country D, 1st floor, Hyatt Regency Hotel, 208 Barton Springs, Austin.

Participants include:

• State Sen. Florence Shapiro
• Shirley Neely, state commissioner of education, Texas Education Agency
• Mark G. Yudof, chancellor of the University of Texas System

The UT System has developed a website called TRACK (TAKS Readiness and Core Knowledge) which is a free online service that features diagnostic tests and interactive learning materials to help 11th graders prepare for the statewide TAKS test, which they must pass in order to graduate from high school.

The website (www.track.uttelecampus.org ) was developed entirely with private funds contributed by Houston Endowment Inc. and the Meadows Foundation. A team of high school teachers and university professors was assembled to help design the materials on the website, which is being made accessible through the UT TeleCampus.

Background: http://www.utsystem.edu/news/2003/TAKSHelp05-20-03.html.

Wednesday Event at High School in San Antonio

At 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 24, officials will speak about the TRACK website and demonstrate its uses at Fox Tech High School, 637 N. Main, San Antonio.

The program will begin in the school's auditorium and then move to the computer lab. Speakers will include:

• Dr. Ruben D. Olivarez, superintendent of the San Antonio Independent School District
• UT System Regent Cyndi Taylor Krier
• UT System Chancellor Mark G. Yudof.