Advisory council begins drafting 2026 access report and agrees to form drafting subcommittee

The council reviewed Texas Education Code §61.06641 and the advisory body's role in producing an access-to-higher-education report for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Sabrina Gonzales Alcedo summarized the 2024 report's 15 recommendations across six issue areas and said the council needs to decide how many and which recommendations to prioritize in 2026. "I do think that there is power in prioritizing a lower number of... top 3 or top 5," Christine Price said, arguing a shorter list could increase legislative attention and likelihood of implementation.

Other members urged balancing breadth and focus: Erin proposed formatting that highlights "these are our top 3" while retaining a fuller list for stakeholders; Nina Zuna urged the council to bring data that shows why recommendations should be prioritized. The council agreed to recruit subcommittee members to identify priority topics and draft report language; Linda, Dr. Evans, Nina, Christine and Beth volunteered during the meeting.

Key procedural dates: the draft report should be finalized by July 1, the council expects to vote to approve the draft on July 17, and THECB staff will submit the final report to the board and the legislature before Aug. 1.

The council will use the program inventory and other research to support top recommendations and will aim to present clear data to the legislature to show the scale and urgency of prioritized items.