Event explores gains made by Hispanic students, underscores need for more

progress

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    WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Sept. 24, the work
 of the Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational Options was featured
 during the first-ever Conference on Education in the Hispanic Community,
 presented by the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community
 Initiatives. The event detailed the educational successes achieved by the
 Hispanic community, but demonstrated that there is still much room for
 improvement.
     (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070928/NYF093 )
     "Education is the fundamental issue in determining whether rising
 generations of Hispanics - and all students - will live in the full embrace
 of the American dream," said Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings.
 "This is a moral commitment to prepare every student for a productive,
 fulfilling life."
     Hispanic CREO's work to bring school choice to more families was
 highlighted by the Secretary and was the centerpiece for a number of
 workshops during the conference. Hispanic CREO field organizers - Rocio
 Diaz, Liliana Hutcheson and Christina Caro - presented a session that
 explored the "Capture, Educate, Motivate, Mobilize" organizing strategy
 that Hispanic CREO employs in its states. In another session, Maite Arce,
 Hispanic CREO vice president, discussed the need to expand parental options
 as a key to solving the education crisis for Latino students.
     "Today's young Hispanics are the first generation that is expected not
 to do better than their parents," said Arce. "This is not only a tragedy
 for our Hispanic community, but it is a disaster for our nation. Without
 improving our educational system, we will see a lack of skilled, productive
 workers and our economy will suffer."
     "Why do less than half of Hispanic and African-American fourth graders
 have basic reading skills, as defined by the Nation's Report Card? That's
 700,000 students who can barely read! And why do only half of minority
 students graduate from high school on time?" asked Spellings.
     Hispanic students in the 4th and 8th grades have dramatically improved
 their test scores since the passing of No Child Left Behind, according to
 the Nation's Report Card released on Sept. 25. Hispanics' scores in reading
 and math are now at an all-time high on the 2007 National Assessment of
 Educational Progress (NAEP).
     "Hispanic CREO recognizes that NCLB has provided low-income and
 minority students with educational services, information, and opportunities
 that they have never had before," said Arce. "More needs to be done to
 bring school choice and accountability to our nation's educational system.
 We urge Congress to reauthorize NCLB to ensure that this happens."
     The U.S. Congress is preparing to debate the reauthorization of the
 NCLB law and is expected to make a decision within the next month.
     ABOUT HISPANIC CREO
     Hispanic CREO is the only organization in the United States committed
 to improving the educational outcomes of Latino children by empowering
 parents through school choice. More information about the organization can
 be found at http://www.hcreo.org.
      Contact: Robert Fanger
      P: 317-410-7668
      E: robert@fangerpr.com
 
 

SOURCE Hispanic CREO