Hispanic students raise their hands to answer a question during a class taught at Birdwell Elementary School on September 11, 2003 in Tyler, Texas. (credit: Mario Villafuerte/Getty Images)
AUSTIN (AP) 51; Hispanic students for the first time make up the majority of students enrolled in Texas public schools.
The Texas Education Agency reports Hispanic students this school year account for 50.2 percent of the state57;s 4.9 million children enrolled in public schools, including pre-kindergarten and early childhood education.
Currently, there are an estimated 2.48 million Hispanics students in Texas public schools.
Hispanics last year made up nearly 49 percent of the students.
TEA spokeswoman Debbie Ratcliffe said Tuesday that the Hispanic population is the fastest-growing group of students.
Texas lawmakers are dealing with a projected $15 billion budget shortfall in the next two-year spending period. Possible funding cuts for public education have been discussed