Valenzuela is also the director of the National Latino/a Education Research and Policy Project (NLERAP) that aims to improve teacher quality and develop teacher education pathways for Latino/a youth, nationally. With previous grants from the Ford and Kellogg Foundations, this work builds on the efforts and advocacy of community-based institutions, as well as Latino/a education and business leaders nationwide.

Since its inception in 2005, TCEP has been an active, authoritative voice in the Texas State Legislature. The Center utilizes research to advocate for high-quality education for all, in particular, historically disadvantaged students in Texas public schools. A significant achievement involves a revision to the Texas Education Code that removes high-stakes tests as the primary bases for decisions pertaining to grade promotion and retention, positively affecting over 300,000 third-grade children in Texas public schools this year. Such decisions will now be based on such factors as grades, attendance, classroom performance, teacher assessment, parent input, and test performance. Continuing efforts include convening groups for the discussion of policy, writing policy and research briefs, conducting original research, providing recommendations and advising on proposed education legislation and policy at local, state, national, and international levels.TCEP also plays a major leadership role nationally as the national home for the National Latino/a Education Research and Policy Project (NLERAP), a community-based, university-connected, grow-your-own, teacher preparation education pipeline project for high school youth in the following six states: Texas, Arizona, California, Wisconsin, Illinois, and New York. NLERAP promotes parental and community participation in school governance, develops leadership and political awareness among youth, promotes systemic change, and improves academic achievement.

Angela Valenzuela is a professor in the Educational Policy and Planning Program within the Department of Educational Administration at the University of Texas at Austin.