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This paper summarizes results of a survey examining educational attitudes, lifestyle, and aspirations of Hispanic students in south Texas. Many students live in impoverished, rural, unincorporated subdivisions called "colonias" that are growing around Laredo, Texas, and other border cities. An introduction to the Texas/Mexico border cities discusses immigration, recent population growth, and impacts on living conditions and education. The survey was developed at the behest of Communities in Schools-Laredo, Inc., a dropout prevention program. It was administered by students in an undergraduate research methods class to 251 secondary school students in 4 south Laredo schools. Tabulated results are presented for all survey questions. Spanish was the primary language in 61 percent of homes. About 76 percent of students lived with both parents. Students watched an average of 3.6 hours of television per day, primarily situation comedies about teenagers. Student responses reveal strong interest in continuing education through high school and beyond, broad recognition of the importance of education for good jobs, general satisfaction with school and teachers for three-fourths of students, and serious discomfort with various aspects of school for about one-fifth of students. Only 48 percent of respondents felt safe in school. Most students believed that they were responsible for what they did in life (88 percent), that they could do what they attempted (75 percent), and that hard work was more important than luck (69 percent). Despite the 40-50 percent dropout rate for low-income Hispanic populations, the sample exhibited exceptionally high aspirations for education and lifestyle and expressed an optimistic attitude toward and belief in hard work and dedication. Contains 33 references. (RAH)

This report consists of information gathered from in-person surveys concerning substance abuse with adult residents (n=1,665) living in the Texas-Mexico border cities of Brownsville, El Paso, Laredo, and McAllen and with residents (n=504) of 51 different colonias in Hidalgo and Cameron counties (colonias are rural, unincorporated neighborhoods characterized by substandard housing and utility services). Current treatment needs and the prevalence of substance abuse within the group is discussed. Participants are compared to other populations including adults in other parts of Texas, Hispanics nationwide, and citizens of Mexican border cities. Acculturation and its relation to substance abuse is examined. Discusses driving while intoxicated, mental health, drug trafficking, availability of drugs and alcohol, family dynamics and problem gambling. Looks specifically at substance use and misuse in the colonias. Provides 22 charts and 29 tables illustrating results of the surveys. (Contains 80 references.) (MKA)

The Lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas consists of three counties: Cameron, Hidalgo, and Willacy. Poverty pervades in the Valley, especially in the colonias ("a poor, rural unincorporated community with 20 or more dwelling units, where home ownership is the rule"). Colonia residents are almost exclusively Mexican Americans. Contributing to the problems of colonia residents is the physical and legal isolation of the colonias. The colonias are physically isolated from urban areas where the residents might obtain health care, education, low-cost food, and other necessities. Since the colonias are not part of towns and cities, they cannot benefit from those governmental units' taxes, nor from the Federal and state programs administered by towns and cities. Colonias are also faced with water-related problems, i.e., access to clean drinking water and sanitary sewage disposal. A 1975-76 Policy Research Project examined the water-related problems of the colonias. This report gives a brief overview of the demographic and economic characteristics of the Valley, presents an overview of the Valley's water resources, examines the current water supply and sewage disposal systems of the colonias, considers the cost estimates for provision of water and sewage systems of the colonias, explores the institutional alternatives for water and sewage treatment, and examines the current situation of land-use management in Texas and in the Valley. Appended is a discussion of the colonias as rural housing. (NQ)

This report focuses on Hispanic American culture in the schools of the lower Rio Bravo Valley (Texas) through impressions and descriptions of the interrelationship of school and community. School culture is defined as reflecting the shared characteristics and uniqueness of the community cultures around the school. The school cultures of the Valley are distinct as a result of historical, geographical, and social facts: political action and Hispanic empowerment; geographical remoteness; and a population of predominantly poor, lower-class Mexican Americans living in colonias (low income communities). Family values, reflected in the school, are the key to understanding the lower Rio Bravo Valley school culture: extended family (shown in the teacher-student "in loco parentis" relationship); physical contact (shown in teacher-student touching); discipline and strict authority (shown in strict adherence to zero tolerance policies); support and pride (shown in school spirit and patriotism); strong gender roles; respeto (respect) for authority; and a strong work ethic (shown in the unpaid extra time teachers devote to students and school activities). The continued use of ceremonies, sports and music programs, and scheduling of Mexican holidays and observances help bind the school and community. Common cultural ties are a part of students' lives: Tejano music, novelas (Mexican soap operas), pachangas (social gatherings) where all are included, ethnic food available in the cafeteria, use of school uniforms common in Mexico, and acceptance of the Spanish language in the schools. The schools of the Rio Bravo Valley, each possessing unique elements, have changed from being islands unrelated to the life of the colonia and Hispanic family to embracing cultural continuity. (Contains 26 references.) (SAS)

This paper explores the application of machine learning to enhance our understanding of water accessibility issues in underserved communities called Colonias located along the northern part of the United States - Mexico border. We analyzed more than 2000 such communities using data from the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) and applied hierarchical clustering and the adaptive affinity propagation algorithm to automatically group Colonias into clusters with different water access conditions. The Gower distance was introduced to make the algorithm capable of processing complex datasets containing both categorical and numerical attributes. To better understand and explain the clustering results derived from the machine learning process, we further applied a decision tree analysis algorithm to associate the input data with the derived clusters, to identify and rank the importance of factors that characterize different water access conditions in each cluster. Our results complement experts' priority rankings of water infrastructure needs, providing a more in-depth view of the water insecurity challenges that the Colonias suffer from. As an automated and reproducible workflow combining a series of tools, the proposed machine learning pipeline represents an operationalized solution for conducting data-driven analysis to understand water access inequality. This pipeline can be adapted to analyze different datasets and decision scenarios., Comment: 26 pages, 7 figures, accepted by Computers, Environment and Urban Systems (CEUS)

American Indian reservations, Mexican American colonias, and African American communities in the rural South are located in close proximity to historic institutions established for their exploitation, and represent a legacy from which much can be learned. Reviews studies of race and ethnicity in rural areas during three periods in the development of rural sociology, 1915 to the present. (Author/SV)

Ricky is an 11-year-old migrant worker. During the summer, he travels with his family from their home in Rio Grande City, Texas, to farms farther north. There they spend 10-12 hours a day in the hot sun picking fruit and vegetables and packing the harvest for market. Ricky is not protected by the federal laws that govern the hours, wages, and working conditions of others. At age 11, he can work legally for more than 40 hours a week, even during the school year. He may pick produce in places where he is exposed to dangerous chemicals and pesticides. Despite the hardships of manual labor, Ricky feels fortunate. His father has a steady job in Chicago during the winter months and sends money home so that his family can stay in Rio Grande City during the school year. Ricky attends Ringgold Elementary School, where the principal, Chon Garza, believes that if children are educated, their dreams of a better life can come true. Included are a profile of Cesar Chavez (1927-1993), a migrant who organized the first union for agricultural workers; profiles of other young migrant workers in fifth and sixth grade; facts about children who work as migrants and about the United Farm Workers of America; many photographs; a glossary; and an index. (Author/TD)

Examines effects of socioeconomic status, school funding, English proficiency, and Latino population concentration on achievement scores of students in grades 3, 6, and 12 in 66 rural California school districts. Performance on the California Assessment Program was predicted primarily by parental socioeconomic status, and, unexpectedly, improved for both Latino and white students as Latino concentration increased. (Author/SV)

This study assesses the human capital development and wage performance of low-income students from geographically isolated and substandard housing settlements known as colonias. The research follows Texas high school students from the classroom to employment over a span of two decades and, specifically, tracks the three border regions where most colonia communities are located. In addition, education and wage regressions are modeled to quantify the adverse effects of residential segregation. Findings indicate that colonia students are more likely to enroll in high school Tech Prep, count on community college credentials, and earn lower wages; the latter largely driven by work experience, educational attainment, type of employment, and gender. Recommended policy prescriptions include improving the high school-to-college-to-work pipeline for students with technical education, especially for women, as well as increasing their college transitions to 4-year programs. Poor infrastructure, unregulated code compliance and incremental self-building over many years has consequently led to some of the worst quality housing and hazardous health conditions. Little systematic scholarship has investigated the intersection between housing informality, residential segregation and human capital, a void this research fills by addressing two central questions: (1) What are the school-to-work and wage outcomes for high school students from colonias?; and (2) Does residential segregation adversely affect the education and work outcomes of colonia students?

The article presents key provisions under the 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act (SWDA) amendments that did not changed the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974. These include the transfer of the annual drinking water revolving fund grant to the Clean Water Act (CWA) state revolving fund (SRF), the authority given to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide grants to the state of Alaska, and bottled drinking water standards under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

The article offers information on the structure, activities, legislative history, and funding of the eight federal regional commissions and authorities. Topics include the composition and governance of these commissions, the service areas and their legislative definitions, and the economic development activities funded by these entities.

The article discusses federally supported projects and programs for water infrastructure, including wastewater, drinking water, and water supply, with a focus on funding, agencies involved, and project types. Topics include funding mechanisms, the role of different federal agencies, and the types of projects supported, such as traditional multipurpose reclamation projects and Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act water storage projects.

The article focuses on U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Rural Development (RD) administers more than 40 programs that support economic and community development in rural communities. It mentions Congress established the rural definitions used in RD programs through the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, Housing Act of 1949 and Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act of 1961. It also mentions water and waste disposal, and community facilities programs.

The article focuses on U.S. Congress has authorized and appropriated funding for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) environmental infrastructure (EI) assistance for the design and construction of certain infrastructure in specified municipalities, counties, and states. It mentions projects include construction of water distribution works, stormwater management, surface water protection, and environmental restoration, among others.

The article focuses on drought has the potential to affect economic and environmental conditions on local, regional, and national scales, as well as to disrupt water supplies for households. It mentions 2021 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report on physical science of climate change, variable precipitation and rising temperatures are intensifying droughts. It also mentions National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, plays a key role in researching and monitoring drought.

The article discusses the U.S. Congressional Research Service report which provides background and funding information on water infrastructure projects, including wastewater and drinking water, and water supply projects traditionally funded by the federal government. It mentions the report focuses on programs that support drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects and also municipal and industrial water supply projects and activities by agencies such as Department of Agriculture.

The article discusses key provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 (SDWA). These include the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conduct research, studies and demonstrations related to water contaminant control, the release of grants to develop and demonstrate technologies related to safe drinking water, and the criteria for monitoring program for unregulated contaminants. The creation of the National Drinking Water Advisory Council is also provided.

Texas colonias are unincorporated subdivisions characterized by inadequate water and wastewater infrastructure, inadequate drainage and road infrastructure, substandard housing, and poverty. Since 1989 the Texas Legislature has implemented policies to halt further development of colonias and to address water and wastewater infrastructure needs in existing and new colonias along the border with Mexico. Government programs and non-government and private organization projects aim to address these infrastructure needs. Texas Tech University's Water Resources Center demonstrated the use of alternative on-site wastewater treatment in the Green Valley Farms colonia, San Benito, Texas. The work in Green Valley Farms was a component of a NASA-funded project entitled Evaluation of NASA's Advanced Life Support Integrated Water Recovery System for Non-Optimal Conditions and Terrestrial Applications. Two households within the colonia are demonstration sites for constructed wetlands. A colonia resident and activist identified educational opportunities for colonia children as a primary goal for many colonia residents. Colonia parents view education as the door to opportunity and escape from poverty for their children. The educational outreach component of the project in Green Valley Farms was a Science and Space Club for middle-school age students. Involved parents, schoolteachers, and school administrators enthusiastically supported the monthly club meetings and activities. Each month, students participated in interactive learning experiences about water use and reuse in space and on earth. Activities increased knowledge and interest in water resource issues and in science and engineering fields. The Institute for the Development and Enrichment of Advanced Learners (IDEAL) at Texas Tech University provided full scholarships for five students from Green Valley Farms to attend the Shake Hands With Your Future camp at Texas Tech University in June 2003. The educational outreach component was evaluated in February 2004 using survey instruments for students and parents, and interviews with science teachers and counselors.

A report is presented on the community development challenges in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas as well as their potential solutions. These challenges include high cost of medical care, limited water supplies and poor soil, and high interest rates for payday loans. It provides a background of Rio Grande Valley which is reportedly plagued with high unemployment and at least one-third of the population living below the poverty line.

Much as they did 100 years ago, farmworkers today still face "back-breaking jobs with impossibly long hours for skinflint wages in filthy conditions," as a newspaper editorial described it. Wages have not kept pace with inflation, and in some labor camps, living conditions range from the deplorable to the unconscionable. Some farm bosses even have been convicted in recent years of enslaving workers, most of whom are illegal aliens afraid to speak out for fear of deportation. Human-rights advocates say the only way to improve conditions is to give undocumented workers legal residency. But opponents say that would reward illegals for breaking U.S. immigration laws and ultimately spark more illegal immigration. Meanwhile, many state and federal laws protecting workers go unenforced, and growers say Americans increasingly do not want to do farm work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides a broad overview of available resources and potential metrics that the U.S. Congress can use to compare various programs. Topics include the summary of programs to assist with economic adjustment assistance and post-disaster economic recovery; summary of selected workforce development programs ; and a summary of programs for business technical assistance.

The article discusses the U.S. Congressional Research Service report which provides an overview of federally supported projects and programs for wastewater, drinking water, and water supply infrastructure. It mentions that Congress has authorized and modified federal programs to help communities address water supply and water infrastructure needs, including both wastewater and drinking water, and administered agencies include Environmental Protection Agency, and Department of Agriculture.

The article discusses the U.S. Congressional Research Service report which provides a summary of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and its major programs and regulatory requirements. It mentions that Title XIV of the Public Health Service Act, is the key federal law for protecting public water supplies from harmful contaminants, and provides standards and treatment requirements for public water supplies, and promote compliance capacity of public water system.

Recently, there has been significant interest in the high levels of rental cost burden being experienced across the United States. Much of this scholarship has focused on rental cost burdens in larger urban areas, or at the national level, and has not explored differences in the prevalence of rental cost burden in urban versus rural communities. In this paper, I find that rental cost burdens are a challenge facing both urban and rural communities. However, despite the need for affordable rental housing in rural communities identified, I find the amount of resources made available by the federal government to address this challenge are at a low point relative to recent history. My analysis of federal resource availability also finds one program has been an important and resilient tool for the development and preservation of affordable housing in urban and rural communities: the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program. Congress delegated much of the LIHTC program's implementation to the states, whereby states choose many of the factors to prioritize when allocating LIHTCs to specific projects. Therefore, I explored each state's qualified allocation plan to identify whether specific factors make it more or less likely rural areas will receive a "fair share" of LIHTC allocations based on their need relative to non-rural areas. My analysis did not identify a specific factor or set of factors that systematically increased or decreased the likelihood of allocations being proportionate to the relative needs of a state's rural communities. However, I did identify a number of factors that by their very design appeared to affect positively or negatively the likelihood that specific types of projects or project locations would receive allocations. Interviews with industry stakeholders confirmed that many of these factors are affecting developer decisions and may be unintentionally disadvantaging smaller, more remote rural projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses that U.S. Congress has authorized and modified federal programs to help communities address water supply and water infrastructure needs, including both wastewater and drinking water. It mentions that U.S. Environmental Protection Agency authorities relate to protecting public health and the environment.

Recently, there has been significant interest in the high levels of rental cost burden being experienced across the United States. Much of this scholarship has focused on rental cost burdens in larger urban areas, or at the national level, and has not explored differences in the prevalence of rental cost burden in urban versus rural communities. In this paper, I find that rental cost burdens are a challenge facing both urban and rural communities. However, despite the need for affordable rental housing in rural communities identified, I find the amount of resources made available by the federal government to address this challenge are at a low point relative to recent history. My analysis of federal resource availability also finds one program has been an important and resilient tool for the development and preservation of affordable housing in urban and rural communities: the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program. Congress delegated much of the LIHTC program's implementation to the states, whereby states choose many of the factors to prioritize when allocating LIHTCs to specific projects. Therefore, I explored each state's qualified allocation plan to identify whether specific factors make it more or less likely rural areas will receive a "fair share" of LIHTC allocations based on their need relative to non-rural areas. My analysis did not identify a specific factor or set of factors that systematically increased or decreased the likelihood of allocations being proportionate to the relative needs of a state's rural communities. However, I did identify a number of factors that by their very design appeared to affect positively or negatively the likelihood that specific types of projects or project locations would receive allocations. Interviews with industry stakeholders confirmed that many of these factors are affecting developer decisions and may be unintentionally disadvantaging smaller, more remote rural projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]