Since Fall 2009, TCEP also plays a major leadership role as the national office of the National Latino/a Education Research and Policy Project (NLERAPP), 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. NLERAPP promotes parental and community participation in school governance, develops leadership and political awareness among youth, promotes systemic change, and improves academic achievement.