Arizona Programs Announced As Bright Spots In Hispanic Education By The White House Initiative On Educational Excellence For Hispanics

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Sep 18, 2015, 02:16 ET

PHOENIX, Sept. 18, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics has highlighted 230 programs across the country as Bright Spots for investing in key education priorities affecting the Hispanic community. There were 10 programs in Arizona recognized as Bright Spots, five of which are partners of Helios Education Foundation.

"We are thrilled that the work being done by our partners Be A Leader Foundation, The American Dream Academy, Ready Now Yuma, AGUILA Youth Leadership Institute and Abriendo Puertas is being recognized by the White House and is receiving national attention as a Bright Spot," said Paul J. Luna, President and CEO, Helios Education Foundation. "We believe that every student, regardless of zip code, deserves a high-quality education and along with our partners, we are committed to closing the Latino student achievement gap and ensuring that Arizona's students are prepared to succeed in college and career."

The other Arizona programs recognized by the initiative include Adults Achieving a College Education, Amistades, Bilingual Nursing Fellows Program, Fowler Head Start Program and The Victoria Foundation.

The Bright Spots throughout the country are representative of key educational areas including early learning, college access, STEM education, postsecondary completion and Hispanic teacher recruitment. Be A Leader Foundation, The American Dream Academy, Ready Now Yuma, AGUILA Youth Leadership Institute and Abriendo Puertas are focused on ensuring that the educational challenges Hispanic communities face are identified and addressed. Through their work, these programs are helping increase educational achievement and improve life outcomes for Hispanics in their respective communities.

As Latinos represent the fastest growing segment of Arizona's population, they will ultimately make up a large portion of the future workforce. Ensuring that the Latino student population has access to quality education across the continuum and closing the Latino student achievement gap will better prepare these students for success in college and career and to become contributors to a vibrant state economy.

The Bright Spots catalog features over 230 programs, models, organizations and initiatives that are supporting and investing in the educational attainment of Hispanics, from cradle-to-career. The Initiative seeks to leverage these Bright Spots to encourage collaboration between stakeholders focused on similar issues in sharing data-driven approaches, promising practices, peer advice, and effective partnerships, ultimately resulting in increased support for the educational attainment of the Hispanic community. To learn more about the initiative and to view the Bright Spots in Hispanic Education national online catalog, visit www.ed.gov/HispanicInitiative.

About Helios Education Foundation

Helios Education Foundation is focused on creating opportunities for individuals in Arizona and Florida to succeed in postsecondary education by advancing the academic preparedness of all students and fostering a high-expectation, college-going culture. Through a decade of strategic partnership and investment, Helios has identified Early Grade Success, College and Career Readiness and Postsecondary Completion as the three most critical reform priorities in achieving our long-term goal. As an engaged foundation, embedded in communities across both states, the Foundation is contributing its expertise and financial resources to better prepare students for college and career and to compete successfully in a global economy. Since 2006, Helios has invested over $155 million in education-related programs and initiatives in Arizona and Florida. For more information about the Foundation, visit www.helios.org.

CONTACTS:
Rebecca Lindgren
Marketing Communications Director
Helios Education Foundation
Ph: 602.381.2294
Email: [email protected]

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SOURCE Helios Education Foundation