more than ever before.

Letter From The A crisis calls for solutions: This is the imperative

that drove the 3rd Annual NALEO National

Executive Director Summit on the State of Latino Education







The signs of crisis are many. While the Latino educational achievement gap and dropout rates are showing signs of

abating, they are still at unacceptable levels. Although Latinos have become the largest and fastest-growing ethnic group in

the United States, growing from 12% of the population in 2000 to 15% of the total U.S. population in 2007, the education gaps

run the lifetime of Latino children into adulthood. They have less access to early childhood education. Eighth-grade reading

scores lag. Only about 60 percent of Latino students are graduating on time; only about 30 percent completing advanced

math courses in high school; and they are still less likely than other students to enroll in higher education or get a bachelor’s

degree.









So we asked for answers. And our Summit delivered

more than ever before.

Education experts from the field and policymakers shared what works—practical tips and ideas to truly make a difference

in this struggle. They told us about action we can take now and what to look for in the future. They spoke of hard-won

successes and changed lives. They gave each of us the keys to change the future.



We thank all who participated for sharing these insights and our sponsors for making it possible to gather and learn from

each other. We have the knowledge, the tools and the determination to avert this threatened crisis in education and improve

the field for future generations.



We are the fastest-growing group in the nation. There is no reason we cannot be the one that advances the fastest as

well—and enrich the entire country through our diverse and solid achievement as we progress. These solutions are the steps

that will get us there.



Sponsored by

State Farm Insurance Companies

Co-Sponsored by

The Coca-Cola Company Arturo Vargas

Executive Director,

Foundation for Child Development

NALEO Educational Fund

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

HSBC-North America

W.K. Kellogg Foundation

The Lumina Foundation for Education

Microsoft Corporation

National Education Association

New America Alliance

Pre-K Now



Convening Partner

National Hispanic Caucus of School Board Members

Summit Sessions





Welcome and Introduction About the Summit

The NALEO Educational Fund brings policy experts,

education practitioners, and elected and appointed officials

High school and Beyond:

together in the nation’s capital to address the state of Latino A high school education is no longer enough to succeed

education. The goal is strategic development of policy and individually or to strengthen the nation economically. How

practices that improve the academic achievement of Latino well does high school do at preparing students for this new

Sharing stories. These are some of the elements of a rich educational expe-

rience—and of this year’s Summit as well. Out of the wealth of

students. The Summit is also intended to give elected and

appointed officials perspective of the current achievement

reality? This session looks at how effective community high

schools can be in their new role as another segment of the

ideas presented, we have worked to present as many as possible gap, where challenges and successes lie, and what pipeline, instead of the endpoint. Presenters spoke about



Mentoring. for elected and appointed officials, policymakers, educators and

organizational leaders to use now.

recommendations and federal legislation are currently being

discussed. This report is a summary of the presentations

federal efforts and recommendations for improvements

including culture change, creation of early college and

and discussions that took place. college encouragement programs, teacher improvement,



Listening.

You will find information consolidated on ways you can take ac- and measures requiring accurate graduation rate data

tion, tips on what works and ideas on what to look for in the future. collection.

You will also find places to go for more information. We encourage Pre-K and the Early Grades:

all participants—and all NALEO members—to keep up the network-

Picking up ing and information exchange even after the Summit is over. One A Latino Perspective

of our primary goals is simply to forge these connections, so we

new tools and

Participants presented research on the beneficial effects

can learn from each other.

Case study/Success story

of early childhood education and gave recommendations on



techniques.

ways to increase Latino family involvement in pre-K, improve

Of course, you are also welcome to contact us at any time programs and teaching, and extend benefits through to later

and explore the rich resources offered in print and on our website. grades. Hidalgo ISD is an extraordinary example of the

Thank you again for being part of this mutual learning experience.

Challenging

great successes that can be achieved in this area.

NCLB Reauthorization: Hidalgo ISD serves 2,930 students in Pre-K through



discussion. While No Child Left Behind is praised for bringing

12th grade. Nearly all the students are Latino; 92%

are categorized as “economically disadvantaged”

accountability and information to the forefront, as it

Eric Wagner and 54% as Limited English Proficient. Yet policy

approaches reauthorization, many stakeholders suggest

Deputy Director of Constituency Services, revisions. Areas to be considered include ELL instruction and practice changes, including close attention to

NALEO Educational Fund and its effect on test scores, the need to give more rather creating a seamless P-20 pipeline, helped make

than fewer resources to struggling schools, and possible the district a nationally admired success, winning

poor effects of an over-reliance on testing. awards, including National Center of Education

Statistics recognition for Hidalgo

High School as one

Strengthening the Middle: of the top ten high

With attention going to lower school grades because schools for student

of NCLB, middle and high schools have been “left behind.” achievement.

But success in middle school is seen as a turning point to

Here are the

graduation and education beyond this. It shows up in areas

ranging from reading scores in 8th grade to the choice of ideas and action

math classes—no algebra, no higher education is too often plans from the

the equation. Many are turning attention to this critical community that

period in education; for instance, U.S. Representative Raúl made it happen.

M. Grijalva (D-Arizona) has introduced the Success in the

Middle Act of 2007, to advance national policy and help

raise student achievement in the middle grades. Solutions

are shared for this area of new concern.









3rd ANNUAL NALEO

2 National Summit on the State of Latino Education

Glossary of terms

Summit Sessions Plenary Remarks

Plenary Remarks

The following is a guide to several education-related acronyms used at the Summit and in materials: ¿Qué está pasando?:

AYP: Adequate Yearly Progress, the measure of a school’s NCLB: No Child Left Behind, a federal program designed to

Answers to tough questions on education

success according to No Child Left Behind improve school performance

Hon. Ana Sol Gutierrez, Maryland State Delegate In topping 44 million, the Latino population is not only

ELL: English Language Learner P-20: From preschool to four-year college graduation and growing, but it is no longer concentrated in the “traditionally

Delegate Ana Sol Gutierrez has been a member of the Latino” states such as Texas and California—it is increasing

graduate/professional school (i.e., grade 20); a continuum Maryland State House of Delegates since 2003. She serves in all states. This means that the achievement gap has

LEP: Limited English Proficiency of education that attempts to align learning beyond K-12 on committees including Judiciary, Juvenile Law, and wider and more far-reaching impact on the entire country

Montgomery County Affairs. From 1990 to 1998, she was than ever before.

NAEP: Also known as the Nation’s Report Card, The STEM: Science, technology, engineering, math—areas an elected Member of the Montgomery County Board of

National Assessment of Educational Progresas (NAEP) is the students are being urged to pursue to enhance national Education in Maryland and was President and Vice President. While some progress is apparent, Delegate Gutierrez

only nationally representative and continuing assessment of economic competitiveness In 1994, she was appointed by President Clinton as Deputy pointed out that it is not yet sufficient to indicate that the

what America’s students know and can do in various subject Administrator of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s gap is closing. She offered several ideas to push this

areas. Research and Special Programs Administration. She has a progress to more acceptable levels:

B.S. in Chemistry from Pennsylvania State University and

an M.S. in Scientific and Technical Information Systems • Check the NAEP scores and look to the Education Trust

from American University in Washington, DC. She is (www.edtrust.org) for aggregated data.

president and CEO of Sol Quality Systems, Inc., a small • Partner better with the African-American caucuses and state

business enterprise providing management consulting and legislators in your area to increase your effectiveness—we

systems engineering services. are all after a better education for children.

• Look to 8th-grade math test scores as an indicator of

Plenary Remarks The State of Latino Education dropout rates, graduation rates and college attendance.

“The story of the Latino population • Focus resources in the first quarter of the 9th grade. “If

is in the numbers: We’re growing at we’re not intervening then, they’re not going to make it,”

Introduction: Hon. Cynthia Matus Morriss, Board unprecedented rates,” said Delegate Delegate Gutierrez said.

President, Patagonia Elementary School District, Arizona; Gutierrez. “That is good for us, but it • Check policy to ensure that ESL isn’t “dumbed down”—it

Chair-Elect, National Hispanic Caucus of School Board has also brought out anti-immigrant should be as rich and rigorous as education in English.

Members; NALEO Educational Fund Board of Directors

sentiment. We’re not here to talk about • Universal preschool is essential—early childhood education

is where the achievement gap begins.

President of the Patagonia board since 1990, Board that, but it should be an undercurrent in

President Cynthia Matus Morriss has held offices on the every discussion we have.”

ASBA Executive board including President, Vice President,

Secretary and Treasurer. She holds many committee “Who gets the money when

positions there as well, including being a member of the

Hispanic/Native American Caucus. At the national level,

and how is something you can

she has held several leadership positions with the National Take Action influence. Even if you’re that

School Boards Association (NSBA), including Vice Chair,

Pacific Region and several positions with the NSBA’s

Getting Accurate Information on Dropout Rates lonely voice on the school

Collecting accurate information about dropout

National Hispanic Caucus of School Board Members, where rates is the first step toward solving the problem. board, you’ll be able to move

she is currently Chair-Elect.

To this end, Maryland State Delegate Ana Sol mountains. You have the power

In looking at the overall state of Latino education, Gutierrez developed model legislation states can

use to put accurate data collection into law. The

to convene meetings, to get your

Ms. Matus Morriss pointed out that while there can be big

differences among states, individual states can also come model is available through the NALEO Educational community to hear. We need to

up with many tools all can use. This is particularly true of

Maryland, not traditionally a Latino state but with a growing

Fund (www.naleo.org). The National Governors exercise our public voice without

Association (www.nga.org) has also been developing

Latino population. While the county from which Ana Sol

standards for collection and calculation of

fear or intimidation.”

Gutierrez is a delegate has a budget of more than $2 billion,

other states with less money can use the models and ideas graduation rates that have been agreed to by all 50

Hon. Ana Sol Gutierrez,

she has developed. states.

Maryland State Delegate



3rd ANNUAL NALEO

4 National Summit on the State of Latino Education

Summit Sessions Summit Sessions







Session I Presentations Connect Pre-K to the Pipeline for Success







Ms. Danielle M. Gonzales, Deputy State Program Director

for Pre-K Now :

ENGAGED FAMILIES High-quality programs encourage

Pre-K and the Early Grades: Ms. Danielle M. Gonzales is Deputy State Program

even more family involvement than regular visits and

reports—for instance, opportunities to serve on a governing

A Latino Perspective Director for Pre-K Now (www.preknow.org), a public

education and advocacy organization that advances high-

board or committee, assist in the classroom, help with field

trips, or share expertise.

quality, voluntary pre-kindergarten for all 3- and 4-year-

olds. Previously, she was liaison to the national office FOCUS ON THE WHOLE CHILD AND FAMILY:

and worked on Latino-outreach efforts for Reading is High-quality pre-K programs should screen children’s vision,

Fundamental. She researched the condition of Latinos in hearing, and general health in order to identify problems and

the U.S. educational system for the White House Initiative make appropriate referrals early, as well as offering meals.

on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans at the For such support services to be effective, it is crucial that they

U.S. Department of Education and received the Harry S. be administered by trained professionals and not be solely

Truman Fellowship for Leadership and Public Service for the responsibility of teachers who may lack the necessary

her efforts to improve Hispanic educational achievement. expertise, extra time, and specialized resources.



Session Chair: Hon. Patricia Torres Ray, Minnesota State Ms. Gonzales received her B.A. in political science

The next step is getting that quality to Latino students.

Senator and Spanish language and literature from the George

Here, Ms. Gonzales offered a number of ways to improve

Washington University and her M.Ed. from the University

services:

Senator Patricia Torres Ray made history in 2006 by of Notre Dame. She taught fourth grade in Brownsville,

becoming the first Latina to be elected to the Minnesota Texas. • Remember, programs do not have to be provided through

State Senate—and she won 81 percent of the vote to schools—many of the best are through community

While strides are being made in pre-K access, with

get there. She is vice chair of the Health, Housing and providers.

schools and community programs serving more children,

Family Security committee as well as, in the education

the biggest challenge is ensuring that this is quality pre-K,

arena, serving on the E-12 Education Budget Division • Erase the “abuela” assumption—policymakers may believe

says Ms. Gonzales. What are some ways to measure the

and Education Policy committees. Her many board Latino families would choose to keep children at home

quality of a program? Here are the major factors Pre-K Now

memberships center on children and health service and rather than engage with pre-K programs.

observes:

include the Minnesota Children’s Trust Fund and the

Children’s Defense Fund. She was born and lived in • Know your rights: These range from making sure you visit a

WELL-EDUCATED TEACHERS: Most advocates are center offering pre-K and check for indicators of quality to

Colombia until 1987, when she married and moved to now calling for all early education teachers to have a B.A. and

Minnesota, where she learned English, worked, and knowing that you are often allowed access to a translator

additional, specialized early-childhood program education. or that an official cannot ask for a social security number.

completed her education. She has a B.A. in Urban Affairs Aides need education to at least the associate certification

and a Master’s in Public Affairs, both from the University level and preferably a bachelor’s degree. Teachers should be • Get families involved: Schools at all levels should educate

of Minnesota. compensated fairly and equitably for this skill level and be families on what they can expect from the school system

given opportunities for continuing education. and what options are open to them. Bring parents into

Without high-quality pre-kindergarten, the P-20 pipeline

pre-K programs as volunteers, aides and teachers.

is disconnected at the source. “Investing in early childhood

LOW TEACHER-CHILD RATIOS AND

education is where we can most effectively close the gap,”

SMALL CLASS SIZES: Pre-K Now recommends no • Requiring better-educated teachers and aides extends to

says Senator Torres Ray. “It’s one of the smartest moves a

more than 20 per classroom, with a ratio of one teacher per seeking bilingual skills.

state can make.”

10 or fewer children.

• Align efforts with higher education institutions and with

Researchers continue to find that high-quality pre-

RESEARCH-BASED CURRICULUM ALIGNED school board goals.

K programs have a substantial positive impact on the

achievement and educational success of all children. TO K-12 STANDARDS: Curricula should have specific • Explore corporate partnerships: Pre-K Now offers

Participation in such programs has been found to increase goals that integrate learning across all aspects of a child’s

presentations and facts to make your case to corporate

high school graduation rates by as much as 29 percent. development: cognitive, physical, social, and emotional. Each

and business partners about the payoff for investment in

Unfortunately, Latino children remain underrepresented in day, children should have occasion to participate in whole

quality pre-K.

pre-K and other early education programs. To help solve this, class activities, small groups, and individual interactions with

presenters outlined the effectiveness of a pre-k—3 approach the teacher. This also enables teachers to meet the realities

• Make enrollment easier: More outreach based on the

that aligns early learning through third grade. They also of diverse languages and cultural groups.

idea that pre-K is for all children, not just for lower-income

made recommendations for increasing Latino participation

3rd ANNUAL NALEO children or those with special language or other needs.

6 National Summit on the State of Latino Education in early childhood programs and improving the cultural and

linguistic appropriateness of available programs.

Summit Sessions Summit Sessions





Learning from Demographics: Being a Latino immigrant child in America carries with

it some positives, Dr. Garcia pointed out in his study of

When Research Moves Rapidly

Surprising Advantages and demographics and education among young Latino children: to the Classroom, Students

Their health and well-being are generally good, with intact,

Weak Points functional families and a low infant mortality rate. In fact, Benefit

“the only area not doing well is education,” Dr. Garcia said.

Dr. Eugene Garcia, Vice President, Education Partnerships, The gap tends to show up when more complex skills are Ms. Janine G. Bacquie, Director, Division of Early

Arizona State University Fulton Center introduced—reading comprehension, for instance. Childhood Programs and Services, Montgomery County

Public Schools, Maryland On the Horizon

And this is true not only for immigrant children, but

Age 3 or Age 4?

across the board. “The achievement gap doesn’t magically Ms. Janine G. Bacquie is currently the Director of the When to Begin

disappear by the third generation,” he said, pointing to Division of Early Childhood Programs and Services for While the public

and states are le

fund programs ss likely to

research indicating that the Latino education gap continues Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland. She has beginning before

despite social class. “You may have thought you had it an undergraduate degree in Early Childhood and Special K age—many pa age 4—pre-

rticipants pointe

made, but your kids are still not doing as well as white kids Education from the University of Maryland at College advantage of begi d out the

from the same social class and background.” nning learning

Park, and a graduate degree in Elementary Education Policymakers w at age 3.

ere urged to look

Administration and Supervision from Bowie State the age limits to at pushing back

Parental level of education is a strong indicator of how University. As Director, she advocates for Early Childhood take advantage

developmental ad of the rapid

much a child will advance, he said. “The best predictor of Education Reform and helps to execute programs and vancement that

when beginning can be possible

a child’s success in the educational system is essential policies locally and nationally. Before this, she held many childhood educat

to the mother’s education,” Dr. Garcia said. “We have Participants also ion early.

classroom and administrative positions, including Early pointed out that

generations to make up.” other types of da private and

Childhood Supervisor, Assistant Principal, Coordinator, y care programs

valuable instruct can also provide

and classroom teacher for pre-kindergarten through Grade ion—parents shou

2 in Maryland’s Prince George’s County Public Schools. have to wait for th ld not feel they

SOME RECOMMENDATIONS HE MADE e state to make a

move.

INCLUDE: Montgomery County, Maryland, has seen a strong

reinforcement in test scores among children who participate

• Because families tend to be functional and resilient, the in pre-K programs designed to help English language

challenge is mostly to increase access to early childhood learners. To create programs that work, the county worked

education and communicate its value and availability. with existing programs as well as establishing a partnership

• A success story: Students in Tulsa who started preschool with Georgetown University. The goal was to apply research

at age four showed such gains in test scores that they evidence to improve student performance—and to bring

almost erased the achievement gap. “This is not to say what was learned in research into the classroom rapidly.

Professional development proved essential to success.

that pre-K inoculates you, but the investment does pay All initiatives made through the partnership had to support

Job-embedded coaching was one strategy that improved

off,” Dr. Garcia said. the school’s Early Success Performance Plan and focus on

literacy instruction and student achievement. Intensive

pre-K/Head Start. Essential elements of the Early Success

Dr. Eugene García was Dean at Arizona State • Educators and policymakers cannot lump together all curriculum coaching also effectively accelerated the rate

Performance Plan include:

University’s College of Education (now the Mary Lou Fulton Latinos: People from different backgrounds and cultures of learning in ELL students, as long as ELL instruction was

College of Education) from July 2002 to July 2006. Before have different needs and strengths. aligned with the existing county curriculum.

that, he was Dean and Professor of the Graduate School of • Professional development.

• Schools should increase the number of bilingual (Spanish

But most important, program administrators pointed to

Education at the University of California, Berkeley, from and English) teachers and second language acquisition • Diagnostic assessments. these three major lessons learned:

1995 to 2001. In May 2003, he was named Vice President specialists.

for University-School Partnerships, with the charge of • Provide the economic incentives to recruit and maintain

• Instructional management system. • More classroom time is critical to success—and how that

strengthening the state’s K-12 education by finding private

sector links. In 2006, he became Vice President for Education

well-educated, pre-K professionals. • Parent involvement. time is spent is important

• At the pre-K—3 level, incorporate a strong literacy • A consistently aligned curriculum, assessments,

Partnerships, which adds the work of coordinating teacher

development focus and provide some form of English-plus- • Full-day kindergarten. and instruction in pre-K through 3 supports student

preparation across colleges and campuses in Arizona as

Spanish instruction. achievement

well as implementing university-public school initiatives to • Smaller classes.

establish campus schools. • Establish and enhance monitoring of the readiness and • The time before kindergarten is critical. Children provided

achievement progress of sub-populations by establishing • Extended learning opportunities. with early learning experiences and family supports are

an information system for pre-K—3. less likely to be impacted by obstacles to mobility, by

• All steps for improvement should be accessible not only poverty, or by limited English proficiency

to poor students, but to Latino students from all social

classes.



3rd ANNUAL NALEO

8 National Summit on the State of Latino Education

Summit Sessions Summit Sessions



Keynote Address

Not “If,” but “When”

Ms. Lily Eskelsen, NEA Secretary-Treasurer



Ms. Lily Eskelsen, an elementary teacher from Utah,

has served as Secretary-Treasurer of the 3.2 million-member

National Education Association since 2002. Her 20 years’

experience includes working as a “lunch lady” in a school

kitchen, a kindergarten aide, and as a teacher at Orchard

Elementary School in the suburbs of Salt Lake City. She

also taught at the Family Homeless Shelter School and at

the K-6 one-room school at the Christmas Box House, which She said her mother thought it would hurt her

is the county children’s shelter for hard-to-place foster kids. children’s chances if they had accents or spoke a second





What Works Now

language. “She realizes now that she made a mistake, and

After teaching at Orchard Elementary for only nine years,

she’s making up for it by nagging us to learn Spanish,” Ms.

she was named Utah Teacher of the Year in 1989. One

Eskelsen said. “I’m taking it now, because I love my mother

year later, she was elected president of the Utah Education

and I’m scared of her.”

Association. She has also served as president of the Utah

State Retirement System; as president of the Children at Risk As the world changes to a global society, diversity not

Getting the Word Out to Parents • Many pre-K outreach staff are Latino and

Foundation; as a member of the Utah La Raza Education only in language but in all aspects needs to be cultivated,

also bilingual

Committee; and as a member of the White House Strategy she said. She cited an experiment in which researchers

Montgomery County, Maryland’s program • Program recruitment and registration Session on Improving Hispanic Education. A humor and asked groups to solve problems—and the groups with more

for early childhood education made getting efforts are publicized through Latino media parenting columnist, her work appears in many publications, diversity came up with more solutions. In her own teaching

the message to Latino parents a high priority. outlets including local Spanish-language and she is a popular public speaker and appears often on experience, she said she saw firsthand how students and

They put the word out about the availability newspapers, radio and television networks television and radio. Her mother is from Panama. She has parents reacted favorably when teachers could speak

and benefits of pre-K through the following

a B.A. from the University of Utah in elementary education Spanish.

channels:

and a Master’s degree in instructional technology.

The importance of the pre-K—3 An obstacle to enhancing diversity and to having schools

• Government and nonprofit agencies

including WIC, Department of Health, CHIP segment “Everyone in this room has beaten the odds,” said Ms. be welcoming places can be the emphasis on numbers

Eskelsen. She referred to facts such as that the poverty rate and scores. “It’s going backwards a hundred years to turn

• Churches, public libraries, family services A seamless educational alignment beginning in Latino communities can be up to three times higher than schools into testing factories, where you’re trying to hit a

agencies with pre-K is generally seen as key to in other communities, and that far fewer Latino high school number on a scale,” she said. “I will fight anyone who says

• Latino service agencies and organizations encouraging higher education. Noting the graduates go on to college than the national average. my job is to hit a test score on some scale.”

important dividing line indicating future

• Legal and immigration resources

math and reading success that falls in 3rd- “You know that the only way many children are going Instead, schools should focus on providing keys to

organizations

grade achievement, educators have turned to make it is through a public school education,” she said. learning in diverse areas—including music, art, vocational

attention to aligning goals and curriculum to “These schools need to be respectful and welcoming places. skills, sports and languages. “Someday, a door is going

The county also made a strong effort to offer extend from pre-K to 3rd grade. This attention It has to be a child’s second home, where the entire family to be in front of you, and you might want that key in your

language support for parents: can be especially crucial to Latino students, feels welcome.” pocket,” she said.

because many of them are English Language

• Program documents including parent Learners and these years are critical to literacy Addressing the importance of knowing languages in She finished by telling the story of a boy she met while

newsletters, community resource guides, development. Recommendations included the modern job market, Ms. Eskelsen told of how in the teaching in a homeless shelter. Angry and hard to reach, he

handbooks and calendars are translated into increasing the number of bilingual teachers at current international community, your education level gradually opened up when she asked him to help her in her

Spanish for parents this level and incorporating a strong literacy could be judged by how many languages you speak. Yet, struggle to learn Spanish. She knew the right moment had

• Spanish interpreters are provided at school development focus in English and in Spanish. her own mother did not teach her children Spanish, though come when she asked him if he was going to go to college

and county-wide events it was her first language. When she asked her mother why and become a teacher. He corrected her, saying: “When I

she had never taught them, her mother explained: “When go to college, I’m going to be a famous soccer player.”

I got here it was very clear to me that people were very

uncomfortable hearing another language. I guessed that The key, she realized, was that he had said “when I go,”

here, the custom was English-only.” not “if.” This is the mindset educators and officials can

strive to instill in Latino children throughout America.







3rd ANNUAL NALEO

10 National Summit on the State of Latino Education

Summit Sessions Summit Sessions





Presentations



Session II

Hon. Adam Chavarria, Executive Director of the

Getting to Grade Level: White House Initiative on Educational Excellence

White House Initiatives

for Hispanic Americans









NCLB: Ensuring All Students Since his appointment by the Bush Administration No Child Left Behind has “unmasked the performance

of schools and teachers in the education of Latino children,”

in December 2003, Mr. Chavarria has been responsible

Succeed in the Primary Grades for directing the Initiative’s efforts in engaging Hispanic Mr. Chavarria said, pointing to reports that state Latino

students are entering high school at below reading level.

parents, families and communities nationwide as active

participants in improving Latino academic achievement. “Now, we’re asking our schools to help our kids read and

do math at grade level.”

Session Chair: Hon. Lilliemae G. Ortiz, Board President, He has also been an active member of the U.S. Senate

Pojoaque Valley Board of Education, New Mexico; Chair, Republican Conference Task Force on Hispanic Affairs

While the NAEP scores show gains in 4th and 8th grade

Advisory Committee since 1991. He became executive

National Hispanic Caucus of School Board Members; scores, especially in math and science, more work has to

NALEO Board of Directors director of the Hispanic College Fund (HCF) in Washington, be done. The President’s Commission has recommended

D.C. at its inception in 1993. During his eight years with several measures, and more information and tools can be

Board President Lilliemae G. Ortiz has the distinction the HCF, more than $1 million in scholarships were found at www.yic.gov:

of being the first Hispanic female ever elected to serve awarded to over 600 deserving Latino students. Formerly,

on the Pojoaque Valley School Board, in Pojoaque, New he was a consultant in Dallas and a vice president with • Early childhood development: Latino

Mexico. She is also the first Hispanic female to serve in SER-Jobs for Progress. He was listed in Who’s Who students need access to early education,

the capacity of Board President on the five-member board. Among Hispanic Americans in 1991 and was a member including early reading.

At the state level, Ms. Ortiz is currently the Immediate Past of the Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the

Dallas Association of Mexican American Professionals. • Parental involvement: Whole families

President of the New Mexico School Board Association should be brought into the process to

having previously served as President, Vice-President and He has a B.A. in political science and a Master’s in public

administration from the University of Minnesota. ensure thinking about college begins at

Secretary/Treasurer of the state association. At the national the earliest grades.

level, she is Chair of the National School Board Association

(NSBA) Hispanic Caucus. She retired from New Mexico’s • Improve teacher quality: Attract more

Department of Finance and Administration where she Latinos to the teaching professions and

was Director of the Administrative Services Division. She prepare all teachers to address the needs

currently is a private consultant and mediator. of Latino students.



• Set high expectations: This may be the

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) was

most important. “We need to build on

signed into law on January 8, 2002, with support of both

our successes in school districts that

Democrats and Republicans in Congress. Most people

have closed the gap,” Mr. Chavarria said.

agree that, used effectively, NCLB can be an important

“We shouldn’t expect anything less from

tool for improving achievement and closing the academic

schools than to have our children read

achievement gap. While the achievement gap between

and do math at grade level. Today, we

students of color and white students has been recognized

have a knowledge-based economy that

by educators for decades, the passage of NCLB marked the

requires literacy and specialized skills to

first time the federal government became actively involved

get a job.”

in efforts to address this issue. This session provided an

overview of NCLB and examined its progress towards closing

the educational achievement gap for Latino students and

provided policymakers information on how they can play

a role in the reauthorization process to ensure that NCLB

allows all students to succeed in the primary grades. Ms.

Ortiz pointed out that poverty is as big an issue as race and

ethnicity, and she brought out the troubling achievement

gap among Native Americans. “We’re concerned about not

only academic growth but also the artistic, spiritual side of

our students,” she said. In improving NCLB, the whole child

and these values must be taken into account as well.

3rd ANNUAL NALEO

12 National Summit on the State of Latino Education

Summit Sessions Summit Sessions





“A Child is More than a Test Impact on ELLs is a Major Although states have been required since 1994 to

Score”: The NEA Game Plan Missing Focus in NCLB provide appropriate assessments for all children, and

include portfolio assessments, dual language assessments

Mr. Joel Packer, Director of Educational Policy and Practice Ms. Melissa Lazarín, Director of Education Policy, First and similar measures, only 11 states have made such

(EPP) for the National Education Association Focus efforts, she said.



Ms. Melissa Lazarín works closely with national The current NCLB draft reveals more resources and

Mr. Joel Packer leads a staff of 20 and oversees NEA’s

advocacy organizations and congressional offices to enforcement, but she added some cautions:

primary policy center on elementary and secondary

education issues, and also oversees NEA’s work on the enhance education opportunities for children in federal

• It makes a huge step forward for improving accountability

reauthorization of Elementary and Secondary Education policy and legislation, including the No Child Left

for graduation rates. “We really don’t know how well ELLs

Act. In his 23 years at NEA, he was Manager for ESEA Behind Act and the Dream Act. Prior to joining First

and other Latinos are faring in relation to each other.”

Policy and a federal lobbyist covering a variety of issues Focus, Ms. Lazarín was Associate Director for Education

Ms. Lazarín said. “We don’t have the data to go back into

including class size reduction, school modernization, higher Policy at the National Council of La Raza (NCLR). At school and make it happen.”

education, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Brady Mr. Packer also gave specifics on what was needed to NCLR, she monitored federal legislation affecting K-12

get these priorities into action: English language learners and Latinos, community-based • Growth models “have been romanticized as the answer

bill, school prayer, civil rights, judicial nominations, health

education, and access to higher education. From 2002 to all our troubles,” she said. “There’s not enough

care, pension and tax issues, environmental hazards in

• Stop the move to institute a pay system that mandates through 2004, she represented NCLR as co-chair of the research to tell how much ELLs improve over time. The

schools, and regulatory reform. He has testified numerous jumps in progress can be larger in the beginning than in

times before congressional committees and spoken before teacher pay based in whole or in part on test scores. “A Hispanic Education Coalition (HEC), an ad hoc coalition of

child is not a test score” has been the NEA rallying cry later years.”

a broad range of organizations including the National national organizations dedicated to improving educational

Conference of State Legislatures, the Center on Education around this issue. opportunities for Latinos. She has a bachelor’s degree in • Multiple measures may not be a panacea either.

• In collective bargaining states, teacher pay must be Psychology from Stanford University and a Master’s from Such measurements can make it hard for parents to

Policy, the National League of Cities, and the Council of

agreed to through collective bargaining. the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. understand how a school is doing if we throw in a lot of

State Governments.

other measures.

• In non-bargaining states, pay must be agreed to by a 75

The National Education Association, realizing the critical First Focus works to create a lasting legacy for children

percent vote of those affected or through an organization

timing of work being done on NCLB, has set its legislative and their families by encouraging bipartisan federal policy

representing majority of teachers.

priorities for what is needed as the measure changes: advancements and investments in children. As such, said

• Add attendance rates and in-grade retention rates to the Ms. Lazarín, it is concerned with education as well as health

list of allowable measures.

• Multiple measures. care, safety and family strength. Take Action

• Growth models. • Allow states to propose additional measures, subject to

The Three Fs of Improving NCLB

approval as part of their state plan. “No one can argue that No Child Left

• Rewards for success. Hon. Raúl M. Grijalva, Member of Congress, 7th

• Include a separate class-size reduction program in the Behind has put our population front and

• AYP flexibility for students with disabilities and ELL District, Arizona, pointed to three major founda-

students.

reauthorization. center like no other piece of legislation,” tional changes needed to make improvements to

• Class-size reduction program.

Ms. Lazarín said. “It is one of the NCLB effective:

The following would be “deal-breakers” for

reauthorization, from the NEA’s perspective:

great civil rights laws of our time. It Fairness: NCLB became a punitive instrument,

• Flexibility meeting teacher requirements.

genuinely takes into account the role race rather than a collaborative, assisting instru-

• Improve teacher quality at the highest-poverty schools.

• Designing in private school vouchers. and ethnicity play in education in this ment. However, the accountability it brought into



If NCLB were not reauthorized, it would automatically

• Undermining of collective bargaining. country. It’s certainly a step forward in the picture should not be lost.

be extended for a year, funded by current law. Mr. Packer • Mandated federal requirements for “effective teachers.” many ways.” Funding: NCLB was underfunded from origi-

emphasized that the NEA has not said it does not want Also, any new mandates using a highly qualified definition, nal authorization. This, he said, set up a self-

reauthorization: “We’ve said we don’t want a bad bill. We including ones based on evaluations directly tied to “That said, NCLB brings with it lots of issues,” she fulfilling prophecy by not giving schools the re-

don’t want legislators to rush through another bill without student performance or growth-model results. continued. “One of the most obvious is the way ELLs have sources they need to succeed.

enough time for discussion with leaders, parents, teachers • Additional mandated federal testing requirements. been impacted. It’s simply inappropriate to test ELLs with Flexibility: Schools need to keep in mind that

and other groups. We need to make time to understand the an English-language assessment.”

• Any mandated merit pay or pay-for-performance full English comprehension can take as long

consequences of the new law and make sure we make the

requirements, including those directly tied to student as three to six years for ELLs. Or students may

right changes.”

performance or growth model results. jump two grades in one year. Measurements

need to provide flexibility for the full range of

these situations.







3rd ANNUAL NALEO

14 National Summit on the State of Latino Education

Summit Sessions Summit Sessions





Special Address The hazards of forgetting are clear. Studies put as many

as 70 percent of 8th graders below standards in reading

and writing, and only 11 percent prepared to deal with

Now

What Works ut the Dream Act STRENGTHENING EDUCATION college. Middle schools also hold the highest proportion of

underqualified teachers. And middle schools get less than

on ream—Witho FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL YEARS

On the Horiz e Dream

Living the D

ifficu lt environmen

t for immigra

nts, 10 percent of Title 1 money.



ard the Colleg Many see a d ic schools,

Progress Tow ss in the publ U.S. Representative Raúl M. Grijalva introduced the

tion for Alien ith poor progre

f, and Educa beginning w e right to go to Success in the Middle Act of 2007—intended to help raise

opment, Relie migrant’s not having th Representative Grijalva described key points of the

The “Devel ld allow an im extend ing through ream Act student achievement in the middle grades. Why are these

M) Act” wou ssage of the D legislation and other important factors to boost successes

Minors (DRE

A

nal basis, giv

ing

college—a si tuation the pa g able to years so important, and what kind of effect can they have

on a conditio with not bein in middle schools:

status to be ch

anged efits and y— and ending gh the other on later educational development and life success? How

ucational ben would remed make it throu

d access to ed , even if they can federal support play a role? These and other questions

them increase es. Ten states work legally • The legislation looks at a comprehensive approach,

nd universiti were addressed as Representative Grijalva discussed his

the opport unity to atte who attended giving grants to local low-performing schools, with $1

immigrants obstacles. he team of legislation and its intent to improve the education of middle

ws allowing ess stories: T billion over five years in funding.

have passed la three or more e are still succ

their state for However, ther e National U

nderwater school students in low-performing schools.

public hi gh school in ifornia, rs who won th • Built in is time and funding for educators to develop

te tuition: Cal budding eng

inee d young

ig ible for in-sta York, ndocumente and share best practices. It puts aside $100 million

years to be el Mexico, New test was all u iversity

sas, N ebraska, New Robotics Con es beat out un to facilitate real proven research, best practices and

Illinois, Kan n. More hool sophomor

d Washingto people. The hi

gh sc

exas, Utah, an Council of

establish a clearinghouse of information.

Oklahoma, T the National e prize.

can be found on teams for th • The Dream Act must be a priority, so those with the

information .nclr.org.

Raza’s w ebsite at www greatest need do not unserved.

La

• Define “middle school” as 5th through 8th grade to cover

a range of local options in configuring middle schools.

Representative Grijalva feels 7th, 8th and 9th grades

are the ideal configuration, but it must be a community

decision with local autonomy.

Four Critical Points in Improving DEALING WITH ELLS: Testing is done to the social

level of English use, not the academic level, which sets

Bringing Middle Schools Back • We must pay more attention to issues of social

NCLB children up for difficulty later. To get to the academic level into the Picture acceptance, which research tells us are closely tied to

of English use can take up to three years at a minimum, academic performance. “Identity, self confidence, having

Hon. Panfilo Contreras, Executive Director, Arizona School research from George Mason University indicates. Speed of a secure sense of place—all of these are vital to a kid’s

Hon. Raúl M. Grijalva, Member of Congress, 7th District,

this level of acquisition can also depend on family support success. In middle school, in particular, we see problems

Boards Association Arizona; Member, Committee on Education and Labor, U.S.

and interaction with outside. with self-esteem and self-expectation. Unfortunately, one

House of Representatives

of the downsides of the testing culture now in our schools

Prior to assuming the post with ASBA in July 1998, Mr.

is that we’re losing some of the humanity issues that are

Contreras was Program Manager for the Family Assistance INCONSISTENT MEASUREMENTS: “It’s a fallacy to Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva’s district is the only one an essential part of education.”

Administration of the Department of Economic Security in even compare classroom A to classroom B. No two are the in Congress representing seven separate Native American

Tucson for 18 years. He was a member, and for two years same.” States establish individual standards and a test to Tribes. Representative Grijalva serves on the Committee

president, of the Flowing Wells School Board. With ASBA, measure the standards, making comparison difficult and on Education and Labor, the Committee on Natural “With the DREAM Act, we ask kids the

he has served on the Hispanic/Native American Indian ineffective. Resources—of which he is the Chairman of the Subcommittee same things their parents ask of them:

School Board Caucus. Mr. Contreras has served on the

UNDERFUNDING: “We’re $56 billion short of the amount

on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands—and the Don’t get into trouble, study hard, bring

National School Boards Association Executive Directors Committee on Small Business. He is a leading advocate

Liaison Committee and the Leadership Development authorized,” he said. “As a country, we don’t seem to have for working families, the environment, preserving Social

home good grades. But now, through no

Subcommittee. He was a member of the Tucson-Pima any trouble coming up with funding for going to the moon or Security and Medicare, universal health care, protecting choice of their own, these children are left

Metropolitan Education Commission and served on the going to war. But we don’t seem to be able to do the same civil liberties, immigration reform and a comprehensive in this limbo. Too many in Congress run

when it comes to NCLB.”

Tucson Mayor’s Education Task Force. He is President border policy; and increased support for public education, away from immigration issues. But the

on the Board of Directors of the Hands Across the Border including financial aid for higher education. He was born

Foundation, a project involving Arizona schools in cultural PLANNING: “We do things backward,” he said. “We knew and raised in Tucson, Arizona. His father was a bracero

DREAM Act is not a political liability.

and educational exchanges with Mexican and Canadian the pipeline was not ready to support our efforts. We don’t who emigrated from Mexico in 1945 to help offset the loss We’re just rewarding kids with the

schools. have the prepared teachers and assistants.” For instance, of skilled American ranch hands serving in World War II. American dream.”

surveying the college systems to see if they can provide the

States such as Arizona, with high Latino populations, types of teachers we need to carry out excellent education Middle schools are “the forgotten zone,” said

is vital. “In Arizona, establishing accountability in science -Hon. Raúl M. Grijalva, Member of Congress,

should attend to four major areas of concern, said Mr. Representative Grijalva. “All the concentration occurs at

Contreras. These are: learning is coming soon. Next up is social sciences. But we kindergarten and first grade and then shifts to high school 7th District, Arizona

don’t have teachers in the state prepared and trained to and graduation. Middle school students are left out of

3rd ANNUAL NALEO

teach these subjects,” Mr. Contreras said. picture.”

16 National Summit on the State of Latino Education

Summit Sessions Summit Sessions



Opening Keynote Address How best to improve No Child Left Behind as it changes?

“First, we need to acknowledge that the law is working,”

Opening Reception

said Deputy Secretary Simon. “Accountability standards

have driven dramatic gains in reading and math. What’s KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM LEADERS NATIONWIDE

NCLB REAUTHORIZATION: HOW THE FEDERAL

GOVERNMENT IS WORKING TO IMPROVE THE more, the achievement gap closing even as the diversity of

our schools is increasing.” Introduction: Mr. Arturo Vargas, Executive Director,

STATE OF LATINO EDUCATION NALEO Educational Fund

“So, with a successful law on the books, the question Mr. Arturo Vargas serves as Executive Director of

Introduction: Hon. Adolfo Carrión, Jr., Bronx Borough is how to change it without losing the gains we’ve made so the NALEO Educational Fund, a national non-profit

President, New York; NALEO President far.” He pointed to several ways to preserve gains and build organization that strengthens American democracy

on them: by promoting the full participation of Latinos in civic

Borough President Adolfo Carrión, Jr., is the Bronx’s

life. The NALEO Educational Fund’s programmatic

12th chief executive since municipal incorporation in 1898. • Use growth models rather than snapshots of different

activities include U.S. citizenship outreach and assistance,

Mr. Carrión graduated from Kings College, a Christian groups from year to year. “We need to determine more

civic participation and integration, voter engagement,

liberal arts college then located in Westchester County. He nuanced accountability that recognizes those schools

campaign training, technical assistance to elected and

served as an associate pastor at a Bronx church and later that are way off, versus those making incremental

progress.” appointed Latino officials, youth leadership development,

as a public school teacher in the west Bronx. After earning

Hon. Raymond Simon, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education research on Latino demographic and electoral trends, and

a Master’s degree in Urban Planning from Hunter College, • Pay good teachers to do most challenging work in policy analysis and advocacy on access to the democratic

part of the City University of New York, Mr. Carrión worked most challenging schools. “We currently reward good

Mr. Raymond Simon plays a pivotal role overseeing and process. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the NALEO

for three years in the Bronx office of the New York City teachers with ‘good classes,’ the honors classes, the

managing the development of policies, recommendations Educational Fund is governed by a 15-member Board of

Department of City Planning. He then became the district good students. And we put beginning teachers in low-

and initiatives that help define a broad, coherent vision for Directors, maintains offices in Houston, New York and

manager for Community Board 5 in the Bronx, overseeing performing classes. Every child deserves the very best

achieving the President’s education priorities, especially Washington, D.C., employs 42 full time staff members, and

the delivery of services to over 150,000 residents. He later teacher. That’s our biggest challenge.”

the No Child Left Behind Act. He had previously served has an annual budget of $5.1 million. Mr. Vargas holds a

became Vice President of Human Services and Community • Legislators need to get to know NCLB better and stop

as the Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Master’s degree in education and a bachelor’s degree in

Outreach for Promesa, a community development working from assumptions and reacting to what they

Education. Deputy Secretary Simon was the Chief State history and Spanish from Stanford University. He is from

organization. In 1997, Carrión ran for and won a seat hear.

School Officer for Arkansas for six years—a position Los Angeles, and was born in El Paso, Texas.

in the City Council representing the Bronx’s 14th District

he held until his initial appointment by President Bush. • Keep the 2014 deadline. It drives everything. A growing

including the West Bronx neighborhoods of University

He also served as superintendent of the Conway School number of schools are on the way to keeping it. Knowing what’s ahead at the federal level can fuel

Heights, Morris Heights, Kingsbridge and Fordham.

District from 1991 to 1997. A native of Conway, Arkansas, • Continue to give schools the state and local action. At a time when local schools are

“It would be an understatement to say that education Simon has been involved in Arkansas education since resources they need to teach more being strongly affected by NCLB requirements and many

is important to the Latino community,” said Mr. Carrión in 1966, when he began his career as a mathematics teacher ELL students. States currently have are calling for increased federal funding, the NALEO

introducing the keynote on federal involvement in improving at North Little Rock High School. In addition, he has been six different technical assistance Educational Fund gathered several leaders and members of

Latino education across the United States. Presidential an adjunct professor for both educational technology documents dealing with standards Congress to make brief remarks sharing their perspectives

priorities such as No Child Left Behind have a critical effect and school finance at the undergraduate and graduate and assessments—for native language and recommendations.

on Latino students, and the reauthorization of the act levels. He received a bachelor’s and Master’s degree in assessments, for Title 1, etc. This

needs to be carefully considered for its long-term results mathematics from the University of Central Arkansas, gives schools more ways to reach UNITY AND NUMBERS MAKE NATIONAL

on achievement. and holds an educational specialist degree in school more children in a shorter time. CHANGE POSSIBLE

administration from the University of Arkansas. • Funding needs to be spent

“The Latino community is painfully correctly. “The administration has Hon. Adolfo Carrión, Jr., Bronx Borough President, New

clear about the need for accountability,” increased funding by 41 percent since York; NALEO President

2001,” said Deputy Secretary Simon.

Mr. Carrión said. “In the time this “What we’ve found is that often that • Every Latino—and every Latino leader—understands the

administration has left, you can be sure money is not well spent. A lot of power of unity. If we unify the 45 million Latinos, we can

you will hear from us regularly and schools and administrators don’t want change the future of this country.

to throw out what doesn’t work. Those

vocally as we approach the end of this districts aren’t successful. The ones

• The priorities of the Latino community are the priorities

administration’s term.” of the American people. If we do well in the Latino

that do succeed are doing new things,

community, we do well as a country.

different things. That’s an attitudinal

change that needs to happen.” • NALEO members need to support and reach other

elected officials to cement meaningful relationships with

decision-makers so we can help our community realize

its full potential in the U.S. enterprise.

• NALEO has launched a national tour to speak to elected

officials across the country.



18 3rd ANNUAL NALEO • NALEO members need to support this by becoming

National Summit on the State of Latino Education

recruiters.

Summit Sessions Summit Sessions



Plenary Remarks

Latino Achievement Goes Beyond Progress Report: Congress Pushes STEPS TO SUCCESS FOR EFFECTIVE

Being a Border-State Issue Forward Measures for Latino HIGH SCHOOLS



Hon. Norman D. Wooten, President, National School Boards

Education Achievement How effective is your community’s high school in

Association; Board Member, Kodiak Island Borough School educating its students? Drawing from the work of leading

Hon. Rubén Hinojosa, Member of Congress, 15th District, researchers and educators from around the country, the

District, Alaska

Texas; Chair, Education Task Force, Congressional Alliance for Excellent Education, a national organization

Hispanic Caucus dedicated to promoting high school transformation, has

Board Member Norman D. Wooten was elected to

the Association of Alaska School Boards in 1993 and has identified elements that every high school should have in

served twice as its president. He served on the task force

Representative Rubén Hinojosa is serving his sixth place to ensure that all students are successful. Governor

term as the representative of a district stretching from Bob Wise, President of the Alliance for Excellent Education,

that developed Alaska’s school board standards and has

the Rio Grande Valley to historic Goliad County and discussed how these elements are expressed in practice

been one of AASB’s spokespersons in encouraging their

the Coastal Bend region. As a member of the Education and how schools can incorporate them.

adoption by local boards. He is currently President of the

and the Workforce Committee and Chairman of the

National School Boards Association. Founded in 1940,

the National School Boards Association is a not-for profit

Subcommittee on Higher Education, Life Long Learning

and Competitiveness, Representative Hinojosa is widely

Address

federation of state associations of school boards across

recognized as a champion for investing in human capital Hon. Bob Wise, President, Alliance for Excellent

the United States. Its mission is to foster excellence and

through education. He is chairman of the Education Task Education; Former Governor and Member of Congress,

equity in public elementary and secondary education in the

Force for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. By focusing State of West Virginia

United States through local school board leadership. NSBA

on a group of proven federal education programs that are

represents the school board perspective before federal

critical to the Hispanic community, often referred to as the Governor Bob Wise became president of the Alliance

government agencies and with national organizations that “To me, it’s like a business—where you invest your

Hispanic Education Action Plan (HEAP), he has helped to for Excellent Education in February 2005. He has advised

affect education, and by providing vital information and money strategically, you’ll see a return on your investment,”

secure dramatic increases in resources that target Hispanic the U.S. Department of Education and serves on advisory

services to state associations of school boards throughout said Governor Wise. “Where the federal government has

communities. Prior to his election, Representative Hinojosa

the nation. committees for the Campaign for Educational Equity and helped and put in resources, there’s been an ROI.”

served twenty years as President and Chief Financial Editorial Projects in Education (EPE), among others. As

• The Latino achievement gap is not a border-state issue: Officer of a family-owned food processing company, H&H governor of West Virginia from 2001-2005, he fought for Commitments to achievement in early education and

It is a national issue. About 20 percent of Kodiak Island Foods. He earned a bachelor’s in Business Administration and signed legislation to fund the PROMISE Scholarship in high school have resulted in obvious improvements as

parents are Latino. They came to Kodiak to work in the and an M.B.A. from the University of Texas in Austin and in Program, which has helped thousands of West Virginia measured by test scores, he pointed out. And there is also

seafood industry. It is an issue in every state. Edinburg, respectively. students remain in the Mountain state for college. Governor a clear correspondence between the lack of funding and

• NCLB must become more flexible in assessing ELL Wise also established a character education curriculum in the dip in achievement in middle school.

• Progress has been made for seasonal migrant workers in

students. all state schools and created the Governor’s Helpline for

education: The adapted NCLB contains programs for their Obviously, high school achievement cannot be sustained

Safer Schools. During his administration, West Virginia

• There is a disturbing implication of the movement to rights, at the highest level ever in terms of investment without strong middle school-level preparation. That would

implement an English-only society that is imbedded in the appropriation. saw a significant increase in the number of students

completing high school and entering college. From 1983 be one of the first steps in improving high schools and

law. • Over the past five years, funding to migrant, bilingual and student preparation for graduation and beyond, Governor

to 2001, he served in the U.S. House of Representatives

• Our public schools are NOT an instrument of the Hispanic serving institutions (HSIs) has either been cut or Wise said.

representing the 2nd District of West Virginia, during which

Immigration Service. We do not need to see documented remained stagnant. We have seen zero or level funding. he aggressively worked to preserve federal financial aid

or undocumented faces—just children who deserve a rich • The 110th Congress passed and the President signed two for students to attend college. He has a bachelor’s degree

education. important pieces of legislation—the America Competes from Duke University and a J.D. from Tulane University

Act and the College Cost Reduction Act. College of Law.

• It has also taken up reauthorization of three important

programs that have significant impact on the Latino

community—Head Start, ESEA/NCLB and the Higher “Think about this: Under No Child Left Behind, it’s as if we make

Education Act. students run a mile, and test them every 10th of a mile, until they’re a

• Officials can support a huge increase in Title 10, now

working in all 50 states on a small budget.

few tenths from the finish line. Then we throw up the cards and say

• “We need to show support for our immigrant students we’re not counting the results anymore,”

and push to pass the DREAM Act. There’s incredible

potential in the Latino community. It’s up to us to create Governor Bob Wise, President

an environment rich in resources so our young people Alliance for Excellent Education

can fully realize that potential.”

3rd ANNUAL NALEO

20 National Summit on the State of Latino Education

Summit Sessions Summit Sessions







Session III

Steps that could extend the successes made in early Ten Key Elements

education into long-term gains beyond high school include:

of a Successful High School

• Broaden the understanding and support for public • Challenging Classes-All students must learn

education throughout the entire community. All people the advanced skills that are the key to success in

need to realize the direct impact high schools have on their college and in the 21st century workplace.

Redesigning the American High

lives, work and quality of life.

• Personal Attention for All Students - Every high

• Educate students, parents and the community about school should be small enough—or divided into

the importance of continuing beyond high schools.

Pointing to the mining and other important industries in

small enough units—to allow teachers and staff

to get to know all students as individuals and to

School: How to Make all Students

his home state of West Virginia, Governor Wise made it

clear that few people can thrive or survive today without

respond to their specific learning needs. Prepared for College and Work

• Extra Help for Those Who Need It - Every high

postsecondary education. Jobs that formerly were open to

school should have a system in place to identify

high school graduates now require specialized engineering

kids as soon as they start to struggle in reading,

and other training.

math, or any core subject, and every school should

• Make classes more challenging. Students need to be reserve time and resources for the immediate help

prepared for the competitive environment they will encounter those kids need to stay on course.

in college and beyond. We are globally competitive; we

• Bringing the Real World to the Classroom - High

will need to be ready to work hard, through encountering

schools should help students make the connection

rigorous education now.

between book learning and the skills needed to be

et

• G all students personal attention and a graduation successful in life.

plan. Planning for graduation and beyond with a personal

• Family and Community Involvement - One-third of the nation’s high school students do not

counselor should begin by the 7th grade.

Students thrive when their high schools encourage graduate, and the rates are even higher for students of

• Bring the real world into the classroom. Engage positive learning relationships among families, color. During the 2003-04 school year, for example, only

businesses and the larger community to bring technology educators, faith groups, civic organizations, 57.8 percent of Latino students graduated on time. In

and relevance into learning, daily. businesses and other members of the community. order to ensure that America’s secondary schools have

• Turn new teachers into good teachers. States that give • A Safe Learning Environment - Every high Session Chair: Hon. Steve Gallardo, Arizona State the capacity and motivation to prepare every student for

new teachers up to three years of mentoring are beginning school must guarantee the safety of its students, Representative; Board Member, Phoenix Unified School graduation, college, work, and life, nine of the nation’s major

to see increased teacher retention. It can take up to seven teachers, staff, and visitors, and every school District; NALEO Board of Directors organizations representing communities of color, including

years for a teacher to become highly skilled; mentoring can should be kept free of drugs, weapons, and gangs. the NALEO Educational Fund, formed an unprecedented

take two to three years off the learning curve. Governor Wise partnership called The Campaign for High School Equity

• Skilled Teachers - Every high school teacher Representative Steve Gallardo is a fourth-generation

pointed to a cost- benefit analysis showing better retention (CHSE). In addition to highlighting the policy priorities of

should know well the subjects they teach and Arizona native and lifelong resident of west Phoenix. In 2002,

the more quickly a teacher gains skills. the Campaign, this session will provided information to

should know well how to teach all kinds of he was elected to the State House of Representative in a new

• G funding to the high school level. Title 1 funding is

et Latino elected officials on how they can join the Campaign

students, from all kinds of backgrounds. legislative district covering Southwest Phoenix and the City

historically low at the high school level. The Graduation and efforts to reform and redesign America’s high schools.

• Strong Leaders - Every high school needs a of Tolleson, Glendale and Avondale. Prior to seeking public

Promise Act is one method of getting funding to so-called office, he served as the Campaign Finance Administrator

skillful principal, one who supervises personnel The struggle to reshape the American high school so

“dropout factories,” or consistently underperforming high for Maricopa County Elections Department for 14 years.

effectively, manages finances capably, and keeps it works for all students is not confined to the classroom,

schools.

the organization running smoothly. During his tenure with the Elections Department, he was said Representative Gallardo. “As policymakers, we tend

• Support consistent and accurate graduation rate instrumental in developing a new candidate-training to sometimes put so much emphasis on accountability and

• Necessary Resources - Every high school should

calculations. The federal Every Student Counts Act, program, spearheading voter registration campaigns and test scores—and these are important—but we forget issues

provide all students and teachers with the books,

introduced in the House, is one such way to get this get-out to vote efforts. He has been involved in numerous outside the classroom that affect our kids.”

computers, laboratory equipment, technology, and

information. “People are gaming the system in a lot of boards and commissions, including recently being

other resources they need to be successful.

different ways on graduation rates,” Governor Wise said, appointed by Governor Janet Napolitano to the Arizona The responsibility is not simply to have students

calling for accountability. • User-Friendly Information -All community graduate, he said, but to have them go on to higher

Juvenile Justice Commission, the DNA Task Force and

members should have easy access to information education. And the responsibility is to ask the question:

• Create an innovation fund. “My job is to take what you’re the Arizona Civil Right Advisory Board. More recently,

that gives a clear, straightforward picture of What is stopping our kids?

doing that works, and if it really works, get it working for Representative Gallardo has become the State Director

how well the school is serving all of its students,

children across the nation. An innovation fund would for Voices for Working Families, a nonprofit, nonpartisan

including those from every income level, ethnic Obstacles range widely, from gangs to health care.

provide for evaluation and replication of what you’ve done.” 527 organization pledged to aggressively organize voting

group, and racial background. Money for college is, in some ways, the easiest problem

Many of the major educational organizations are beginning activities in key states.

to work together to improve high schools, he said. to solve. However, he said, “there are principals and

superintendents out there who have no idea of the reality

we’re facing. We have kids with dirt floors, and the leaders

are wondering why students don’t have computers at

22 3rd ANNUAL NALEO home.”

National Summit on the State of Latino Education

Summit Sessions Summit Sessions





Presentations We Need to Highlight

and Celebrate Achievement

POOR HIGH SCHOOLS THREATEN

CIVIC COMPETENCY

“I am one of those radicals who believe that high

schools belong to us,” Mr. Wotorson said. “I think they exist

to train and provide civic competency for young people, to

Mr. Michael Wotorson, Director of Community make our country work. ”One effort to improve high schools

comes through the Campaign for High School Equity (www.

Partnerships, Alliance for Excellent Education

highschoolequity.org). Here are just a few of its many

Mr. Raul Gonzalez, Senior Legislative Director, National recommendations:

Mr. Michael Wotorson is responsible for supervising

Council of La Raza

and implementing the goals of the Alliance’s civil rights • Align high school standards, curriculum, and instruction

initiative, including its collaboration with the Campaign for with college and work readiness.

Mr. Raul Gonzalez works with Congress, the White

High School Equity (CHSE), an unprecedented partnership

House, advocacy groups, and NCLR’s affiliated community- • Define graduation rates using common standards.

of nine of the nation’s major organizations representing

based organizations to improve life opportunities for

communities of color. Prior to coming to the Alliance, • Utilize models that support diverse learning styles.

Latinos. Prior to joining NCLR in 1998, he was a legislative

Mr. Wotorson served as National Director of Education • Incentivize teaching to attract highly effective teachers to

assistant in the office of U.S. Representative Major R.

for the NAACP. At the NAACP, he was responsible for high need schools.

Owens, for whom he worked on legislation to increase the

overseeing the management of the NAACP Call for Action

academic achievement and attainment of poor children. • Address cultural competency for teachers—its lack is one

in Education Initiative, and developing advocacy strategies

As a teacher in the New York City public schools, Mr. factor pushing students into special education or pushing

and campaigns to address racial/ethnic disparities in

Gonzalez taught writing, algebra, and special education. them out of school.

education in support the Association’s overall education

This allowed him to learn first-hand about the needs of • Create multi-lingual centers to train parents/caregivers

advocacy agenda. Most recently, Mr. Wotorson served as

economically disadvantaged students. He was born in to be better advocates for students.

Director of Partners Against Hate, a hate crime prevention

Puerto Rico, and was raised in Brooklyn, New York. He is

and awareness project of the Anti-Defamation League • Provide incentives to encourage states to develop

a graduate of the City College of New York, with degrees in

funded by the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. alternative school-finance approaches that lessen the

English and psychology. reliance on property taxes.

Department of Education. He holds a B.A. in Political

He outlined several broad recommendations that could Science from the University of Missouri-Columbia and is

If high schools do not work for Latino students, they help strengthen high schools’ performance:

do not work at all, said Mr. Gonzalez. The number of

completing a doctoral degree in Education Administration The group has the following recommendations for state

Latino students are climbing so quickly that their progress at American University. and local policymakers seeking to remake high schools:

• Redefine graduation: “You can graduate from a high

coordinates with the progress of students in general. school in a poorer, Latino community, but you may still not

be able to compete,” Mr. Gonzalez said. Simply awarding • Direct resources toward improving literacy as a strategy

for increasing graduation rates.

“We need to highlight and celebrate when a diploma is not enough—students should be prepared

to compete in a global employment environment, which • Focus on developing and supporting strategies for improving

our kids do well, to show everyone we can

means being fully ready to get higher education. the “dropout factories” in your community.

do it,” Mr. Gonzalez said. “We are very

m

• I prove teacher quality: Offer incentives to teachers, • Work to improve methods for calculating graduation rates

close to changing public perception.” especially AP and other advanced subject teachers, to in your community.

work in Latino community schools. • Support school innovations geared toward increasing

• Remove the ELL barriers: NCLR started the Early College student achievement.

Project, which works with communities to start local • Intimately involve your citizens in every step of the

college-high schools, where students can be brought up process.

to level in Spanish and English as well as work toward two

years of college academic credit (see www.nclr.org).

• Look at the district as a whole: “High schools do not exist

in isolation,” Mr. Gonzalez said. The problems in the high

school reflect those of the overall district; redesigning

the district should be a possibility. Addressing issues

ranging from health care to violence, in partnership with

local governments and nonprofits, can help overcome

obstacles to learning in the high schools.









3rd ANNUAL NALEO

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SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON







Session IV

PROGRAMS THAT WORK



Dr. Estela R. López, Senior Fellow, Excelencia in

Education



Dr. Estela R. López is the former Vice Chancellor

of Academic Affairs of the Connecticut State University.

She was provost and vice president for academic affairs

at Northeastern Illinois University and senior associate

Latino Higher Education: at the American Association for Higher Education and

a senior fellow at the American Council on Education,

Making a College-Going as well as serving as vice president for academic affairs

and planning at the Inter American University of Puerto

Culture Real Rico. She has a bachelor’s degree in Spanish literature

from Queens College and a Master’s and Ph.D. in Spanish

• At the baccalaureate level, Compact for Success is a

unique partnership between San Diego State University

literature from Columbia University. Her awards include (SDSU) and the Sweetwater Union High School District

Session Chair: Hon. Henry L. Fernandez, Ed.D., Executive

the Distinguished Leadership in Higher Education Award (SUHSD) that breaks barriers to college access for Latino

Director of Access and Outreach, USA Funds; Vice President,

Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township, Indiana;

from the American Association of Hispanics in Higher students by guaranteeing admission and financial aid

Education, the Illinois Latino Council in Higher Education to students who complete the program. Requirements

NALEO Educational Fund Board of Directors

Distinguished Service Award, and the Connecticut Women’s include maintenance of a 3.0 GPA and passage of

Education and Legal Fund Award. She currently chairs SDSU placement tests in English and mathematics. All

the Latino Endowment Fund of the Hartford Foundation. Sweetwater students who enter the district by 9th grade

She is also a member of the Executive Committee of the are eligible for the program. Results: SDSU has seen a

American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education. 96 percent increase in the number of students admitted

to SDSU from SUHSD district and a 192 percent increase

Presenting opportunities and making a place that in the number of Sweetwater students enrolling without

both welcomes and challenges Latino students to enter the need for remediation.

higher education is essential to keep them engaged and • The Psychology Department at Our Lady of the Lake

Dr. Henry L. Fernandez oversees the $18 million that The current state of Latino education and the emerging succeeding in college. Excelencia in Education’s annual University has historically focused on training skilled

USA Funds invests annually in philanthropic programs U.S. demographic shift bring growing challenges for those awards focus on “things we know are already working,” practitioners able to serve diverse client populations. This

that advance its nonprofit mission to help Americans working to champion education policy that increases access Ms. Lopéz said. The award program is intended to produce focus led to the creation of the Psychological Services

to higher education for all students. More than ever, diverse models to encourage improvement at higher education for Spanish Speaking Populations (PSSSP), an optional

prepare for, gain access to and successfully complete higher

stakeholders, including parents, educators, business institutions nationwide. The selection process is rigorous specialization for Master’s, Doctorates of Psychology

education. These initiatives include USA Funds’ national

leaders and policymakers are forming partnerships to and programs must show results. (Psy.D.) in Counseling Psychology and post-graduate

scholarship program, support to other scholarship-providing

develop seamless P-20 educational pipelines that increase education and the graduate level. The specialization

organizations, outreach programs such as USA Funds Unlock Programs usually have a longer-term life: “We want

Latino access to, as well as, student success in college. includes courses on service delivery in Spanish and on

the Future for middle-school students and their families, people to have time to really develop the program, so that it

This session will bring together a panel of higher education cultural and Spanish-language immersion and a bilingual

and other endeavors that help families scale barriers to makes an impact and changes the culture of the institution,” practicum. Prior to PSSSP, 18 percent of students in

experts, stakeholders and experienced practitioners to

higher education. Dr. Fernandez has more than 25 years she said. The organization announces the awards around the doctoral counseling program were Latino and now

discuss what role elected officials can play in developing

experience in education. Prior to becoming USA Funds’ higher education policies that increase college readiness the time of the Summit each year. This year’s winners 42 percent are. Faculty and student scholarship about

executive director, scholarships, outreach and philanthropy, and graduation rates for Latino students. presented several qualities that could be useful to other the use of Spanish in counseling has blossomed in

in 2004, he most recently was program director for the schools and programs: refereed journals, papers and workshops at professional

Lumina Foundation for Education. Earlier in his career, he In his introduction, Dr. Fernandez traced the trajectory meetings.

served as an elementary-school principal and teacher. He of a successful student and what this success can mean to • At the associate level, the ENLACE (Engaging Latino

received his doctoral degree in education and three Master’s the larger community: “The more education you have, the Communities for Education) Program at Evergreen Valley

degrees from Teachers College, Columbia University. more income you have, the better health you’ll have, the College collaborates to offer a culturally responsive

Dr. Fernandez completed his undergraduate studies at longer you’ll live. The more education you have, the more approach to the educational needs of Latino students.

Queens College of the City University of New York. In May taxes you pay, the better the government, the lower the crime More than 65 Latino community professionals participate

2006, he was elected to the Metropolitan School District of rates. It’s a life and death issue for our community—it’s as mentors. Results: ENLACE participants pass a variety

Lawrence Township in Indiana and currently serves as Vice as simple as that. Our economy demands a well-educated of courses at much higher rates than Latino students.

President of the Board. workforce.”





3rd ANNUAL NALEO

26 National Summit on the State of Latino Education

Summit Sessions Summit Sessions





CULTIVATE POTENTIAL COLLEGE ATTENDEES PUTTING ENERGIES TOWARD SCIENCE AND

TO GROW SUCCESS ENGINEERING REAPS BENEFITS

What factors account for this success? “Cultivate,

cultivate, cultivate,” Ms. Torres said. They speak to Dr. Benjamin Flores, Professor of Electrical and Computer

Ms. Stella Torres, Director, Achieving a College

Education (ACE) Program, Maricopa Community everyone from congress people to maintenance workers Engineering and Associate Dean of Engineering Graduate

On the Horizon

at the schools about the program, Ms. Torres said. She

Colleges Foundation, Arizona Studies, University of Texas, El Paso, Texas

also pointed to several other strategies, including some What About the Boys?

identified by a Ford Foundation study of the program: Studies show the graduation and college-going

Ms. Stella Torres was Associate Director of Grants Dr. Benjamin Flores is Director of the University

and Corporate Development for MCCCD, raising funds of Texas System Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority rates for Latino girls rising even as rates for

for ten community colleges, and Director of South Participation. In this capacity, he supports STEM Latino boys fall. Last year, USA Funds gave

Mountain Community College ACE. She has served as • Sensitivity to undergraduate researchers that participate in a statewide away almost three-quarters of its scholarships to

Executive Director of the Arizona Hispanic Women’s summer exchange program and graduate students bridging

community dynamics into the Doctorate. He is also the Director for the Model

girls. Participants agreed the discrepancy could

Conference; Assistant for Phoenix City Councilwoman have a profound effect on Latino families. This

Mary Rose Wilcox; Prevention Training Specialist with • Creation of student Institutions for Excellence Initiative at UTEP. He has

has led some programs for graduation and college

Community Organization for Drug Abuse, Mental Health cohort groups established an infrastructure for UTEP STEM students to

attendance to target their services to boys. Other

and Alcoholism Services, Inc.; and Administrative Aide support their studies and for STEM faculty to become more

for Arizona State Senator Luis A. Gonzales from 1979- • A focus on at-risk effective teachers. Dr. Flores is experienced in developing programs, by focusing on middle school—such

1980. Ms. Torres is a member of Maricopa Association students strategies for minority STEM student recruitment, retention, as The Junior ACE program—hope to catch boys

of Chicanos in Higher Education, a member of the and success. He is an advocate of the University’s mission before they get sidetracked in high school.

Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation’s Pathways Advisory • High academic of Access and Excellence and is committed to changing the

Council and the Council for Advancement and Support of standards face of engineering in the United States.

Education. She holds a B.S. in Family Life Studies from

Arizona State University and a Master’s in Educational

• A non-threatening The only American doctoral research intensive Dr. Flores outlined some of the success strategies the

Leadership from Northern Arizona University. environment university with a student body that is predominantly school uses:

Mexican American, the University of Texas, El Paso, set

As the success of the ACE program grew, the directors

• Continuous contact an ambitious goal of doubling the STEM degrees awarded • Realize institutional change is a long-term process: He

to Latino students by 2010. In the first year, the program himself commented on how he has seen the “face” of the

took an idea from the Ivy League: Why not start a legacy with students campus change, from majority white to majority Latino:

program? Now, siblings of students participating in the increased retention by 80 percent, putting the University

college encouragement program can get preference for • Family involvement well on its way to success. “It took us 11 years to get to the point we are now.” The

admission. school has also had support from a decade of federal

• Strong investment.

This ability to grow, change and pull ideas from the world cross-institutional • Support and cultivate teaching: The school created a

of educational excellence has helped the ACE program

show strong results. The program is also instituting a collaboration faculty development center to bring teachers additional

Junior version for middle schools and a Native American support. “Most of us PhDs are very good at doing

program paid for through tribal funds. Through the program,

• Long overlap of research, but we don’t always have the right tools to

sophomores can take classes on the Maricopa college transition points educate undergraduates,” he said. Curriculum reform is

campus in the summer and on Saturdays during the school also ongoing and consistently reevaluated. Current faculty

year. They can earn up to 24 transferable college credits,

• Scholarships and makeup is about 30 percent Latino, which doesn’t reflect

giving them an invaluable head start. Most of the students financial aid the demographics of the community, but Dr. Flores said

the school is very proactive in attracting Latino professors.

in the program are first-generation college-goers, have information Gender division is about 50/50, he said.

financial need and have one or more risk factors—single-

parent family, foster care, etc.

• Mentoring matters: Critical to success has been several

Yet results have been exceptional: Students in the mentoring programs, including peer mentors, faculty

program on average graduate with a 3.05 GPA, and about mentors for undergraduate researchers, and outreach

three-quarters of the students in the program went on to ambassadors. “Giving students leadership roles is

college. “I have past gang members, now working as CEOs, crucial to the success,” Dr. Flores said.

working in social services, and with Master’s degrees,” Ms.

Torres said. • Promote the program: The school has spread the news

about the program across the border to Mexico and

also to Chile, where interest is high. The school is also

working to promote women’s science and engineering

involvement. Students from Juarez have the possibility

28 3rd ANNUAL NALEO to attend on a visa and pay in-state tuition.

National Summit on the State of Latino Education

Summit Sessions Summit Sessions



Other moves that could be applied to other systems

Making the takeover step is a big one for a mayor, include:

KEYNOTE ADDRESS but one more of them are acting on. As someone who

has served on the school board, Mayor Perez gave careful • Changeover from 40 school districts to a system of four

thought to the action, but said that more than two decades zones. In each zone, parents can choose the school. The

Hon. Eddie A. Perez, Mayor of Hartford, Connecticut

of reports detailing the same problems with the schools money follows the students—so if a student has special

made a takeover imperative. needs, the money follows the student rather than being

Mr. Perez is Hartford’s first Latino Mayor and its first

tied to the school.

strong mayor in more than 50 years. By changing the City He built the new plan for the schools on the following

Charter in 2002, he is now the CEO of Hartford. Born in • Schools that perform well get autonomy to choose

“steps to success”:

Corozal, Puerto Rico, Mayor Perez arrived in Hartford in curricula.

1969 with his mother and eight siblings, graduated from • Recognize that education starts at birth. • Superintendent and cabinet positions’ compensation is

Hartford Public High School in 1976 and later earned tied to student achievement.

• Recruit knowledgeable and inspiring educators and

an associates degree from Capital Community Technical • The city is developing a plan to tie principal and teacher

leaders.

College. In 1978, Mr. Perez took a job as a VISTA volunteer compensation to achievement.

to address tenant issues in the North End. That position • Engage parents.

led to his role as the founding member of the grassroots • Ensure schools provide safe, positive learning

organization O.N.E./C.H.A.N.C.E. In 1986, he became environments. However, there have also been barriers to overcome.

the Director of MASH (Make Something Happen), an early • Raise student expectations.

Cities and mayors contemplating a takeover should Case Study

consider:

welfare-to-work effort for families in public housing. He

• Promote college enrollments and life-long learning

HIDALGO INDEPENDENT

later became Associate Vice President of Community and

opportunities. • MEDIA AMNESIA: Forgetting from year to year what SCHOOL DISTRICT:

A P-20 PIPELINE SUCCESS STORY

Government Relations for Trinity College. In June 1999,

he was selected as president and executive director of the • Increase graduation rate from four-year colleges. has been overcome and spreading the impression that

progress is not being made.

Southside Institutions Neighborhood Alliance (SINA),

In an effort to increase student achievement,

an organization founded by Trinity College and Hartford To achieve these, the city revised the charter, granting • INADEQUATE DISTRICT LEADERSHIP:

Hospital. In that capacity, he spearheaded the completion strong mayoral control. It also hired a new, nationally Restructuring may lead to a dearth of qualified leaders. education policymakers are developing seamless

of the $112 million Learning Corridor and launched recognized superintendent. He made a cabinet-level pre-K to graduate studies (P-20) educational systems

• MONETARY CONSTRAINTS: Under-performing

SINA’s $220 million Neighborhood Initiative. Both are appointment for a head of an Office of Young Children, also

schools may not be able to get the funding they may that strengthen continuous transitions for lifelong

now recognized as a national model for comprehensive responsible for early childhood education. A chairman’s

need.

community revitalization. commission was charged with increasing college retention learning. Using Hidalgo Independent School District

and graduation. • SYSTEM-CENTERED VS. CHILD-CENTERED:

in Texas as a case study, this session looks at how

The culture that preserves the system over the benefits

to students can be intractable. Latino student achievement has been positively

• IMPLICATIONS OF UNPOPULAR DECISIONS affected by the establishment of a seamless P-20

Mayoral Control of Public Education: The Hartford

Experience ON ELECTIONS: Mayor Perez was frank about the educational pipeline. Hidalgo ISD serves 2,930

reluctance of many to take a chance on having to leave students in pre-K through 12th grade: 99.7% of

Until recently, most urban mayors played a marginal role work unfinished if an unpopular decision results in their

in public education. However, a growing number of mayors failure to win another term. “I’m up for reelection this the students are Latino, 92.2% are categorized

seem ready to face the challenge of public education. year, and we’re closing five schools. People said we as “economically disadvantaged” and 54.1% are

Currently, about a dozen of the 75 largest school districts should put off the closings for two years and do it once

I’m reelected, but if we did that, 2,000 kids would be Limited English Proficient. Yet, in spite of difficult

are under mayoral control. In Hartford, Connecticut, where

the mayor appoints five of nine school board members, affected. It’s unfortunate that something as important circumstances, in 2001-2002, the National Center

Mayor Eddie Perez named himself to the school board in as education should be influenced by that.”

of Education Statistics recognized Hidalgo High

December 2005, three years after the troubled school

district emerged from state supervision, and is now its School as one of the top ten high schools for student

chairman. achievement. Building on its success, Hidalgo High

School is currently in the process of setting up an

initial four-year effort with the University of Texas,

Pan American. State and local policies and diverse

partnerships are needed to maintain this success.







3rd ANNUAL NALEO

30 National Summit on the State of Latino Education

Summit Sessions Summit Sessions



Mr. Eduardo Cancino, Superintendent, Hidalgo

Independent School District



Mr. Eduardo Cancino provides leadership for

improvement initiatives to support high quality education

for all students through the many programs that the

district offers. These programs include: the Hidalgo

Early College High School, the Full Day Pre-K 3 and 4

program, the Dual Language Program, the Adult Literacy

Academies, and the Summer Education Internships.

With 19 years of experience in education, Mr. Cancino

has been asked to share Hidalgo’s effective policies and

practices at several conferences in recent years: The

2007 White House Initiative on Educational Excellence

for Hispanic Americans; the 2006 White House Initiative Hidalgo Early College High School

on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans; the Among its recent awards is the distinction as the number

2005 U.S. Department of Education’s Office of English one School District in Texas through the HEB Excellence in Early Childhood Education

Language Acquisition Celebrate Our Rising Stars Summit Education Award. The district has also earned Recognized

IV, and more. or Exemplary state accountability rating for nine consecutive Dual Language Program

years.

Career Pathways Program

Hon. Martin Cepeda, Board President, Hidalgo What made this success possible? It started with

Independent School District a mindset from the business world, one that looked at Hidalgo Parental Academies

excellence as a requirement, and one that did not allow for

Board President Martin Cepeda leads the Hidalgo a choice among alternatives, but required administrators Summer Educator Internships

Independent School District in Texas. He previously to find a way to make everything possible. Connecting to

served twice as board president and has also served as the world of work was an important value—but this meant

board vice-president for the district. Board President connection to the reality of the current work world, one that

Cepeda is currently Chief of Security with the County of requires higher education, and, in addition, the connection

had to be made for teachers and administrators as well as

Hidalgo Judge’s office. He has a long history of public

students.

service and previously worked at the Hidalgo Police

Department, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission

The improvement effort was rooted in the following

and the U.S. Department of Customs and Immigration. core beliefs:

Board President Cepeda has a B.A. in Law Management

and Administration from the University of Texas, Pan

American. • “Total Team Effort”



“The odds are stacked against the children here…” said

• “No Excuses Philosophy” Programs • HIDALGO EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL: Hidalgo HS

was renamed Hidalgo Early College High School and

an article about the Hidalgo community. But it would appear • “Beyond Exemplary: has been restructured into two ECHS in order to provide

that the people of the community are intent on beating A portfolio of programs make the schools every high school student with the opportunity to earn

those odds. Although the school faces difficulties including One Student at a Time” up to 60 college hours upon graduation. Students can

work for the entire community. Here is a look attend its Academy of Health, Science, and Technology or

nearly all students being classified as “economically

disadvantaged” and about half Limited English Proficient, it For instance, partnerships were essential to the at the basic programs, their challenges, and its Academy of Human Services. By 8th grade, the goal

has become one of the top high schools in the nation. It has improvements, as in the first principle. One example of the what helped them succeed: is that students will be “attending the university, in their

been a district-wide effort that begins at age 3 and extends third in action came when the school was offered grants minds, at least,” and planning for their future college

through college, whether in the early college program or that could serve only 100 students in a class. Instead of coursework. Through summer academies, students

beyond. accepting the funds, the district pushed back, requesting focus on college readiness. Students are made aware,

the funder find a way to include all students. Anything less however, that this college opportunity is not a “freebie”—

would risk letting an individual fall through the cracks. they are expected to meet college entry requirements

and be capable of attending college.

In practice and action, the improvements were based on

three tracks: Programs, partnerships and administration.





3rd ANNUAL NALEO

32 National Summit on the State of Latino Education

Summit Sessions Summit Sessions



• EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION: All day pre-K is the

norm, not only for 4-year-olds, but for 3-year-olds. Early

Partnerships Administration

skills development is emphasized, with attention to Qualified partners in the business and academic world The school board can make or break such an effort for

emergent literacy development, social and emotional were important to making the programs work, serving as improvement, presenters said. The Hidalgo board had to

development, and language and cognitive development. resources, models and hosts. Obstacles to overcome were change the way it “did business” to ensure success of the

Students are also made aware daily that they are part the difficulty in finding partners to work with very young many new programs and partnerships. In order to do this,

of a larger academic program that will involve college- children. Another was the different sizes and flexibility it established a new set of principles:

level work in their future. To send the message to the of institutions. As Mr. Cancino put it, “our school is like

community that the district takes the work being done a speedboat, and the universities are like a cruise ship.” • Create vision, goals, expectations, and

at the high school seriously, the district remade the

school’s façade to look more like a college entrance. A

Here is a list of the major partners for the district: policies

large plaque proclaims the location of the college high

• University of Texas– Pan American • Provide resources and support

school, so that even the youngest children are aware of

the college-level presence. • South Texas College • Let the superintendent and staff

do their jobs

• Texas State Technical College

• DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM: The district focuses on bi- • H IDALGO PARENTAL ACADEMIES: These provide • Focus on the students

literacy for every graduate. Dual language is implemented cohorts of parents with a Language Academy, Workforce • University of Texas–Austin

district-wide, beginning with pre-K and continuing Academy, and College Readiness Academy. Obstacles • Demand excellence

through middle school classes in world and Texas history. included expenses—the district used grants to pay to • McAllen Economic Development

This is another program that emerged from a look at the bus parents to colleges. The district also had to hire an Corporation • Keep the big picture in mind

business sector, both in its needs and in its processes. individual whose job it was to get parents more involved. • Hold staff accountable for results

The district heard from the international businesses on There was also a problem with many different parent • South Texas Manufacturers Association

both sides of the border that they were interested in hiring assistant groups not being aligned or communicating.

• City of Hidalgo • Make performance matter

only biliterate people, and that business leaders had The district worked to get them all working together.

found that even the Latino students were not sufficiently “We needed to go beyond coming in and cutting paper • Tech Prep of the Rio Grande Valley • Strive for lasting excellence in all areas

literate in Spanish—so the school set out to remedy that. and get real parental engagement,” said Mr. Cancino. • Accept no excuses

Parents benefit from educational programs ranging from • Parents

learning English to managing money to taking college • Focus on solutions

• CAREER PATHWAYS PROGRAM: Every student receives courses. The district is looking toward some parents

counseling based on a selected career pathway. earning associate and bachelor’s degrees. • No micromanagement

Counseling services are based entirely on students’

selected pathways—not on grade levels or other

designations. Students are encouraged to explore their • SU MMER EDUCATOR INTERNSHIPS: These enrich

interests, skills, and career goals. Counseling begins in the teaching experience and improve teacher quality,

elementary and extends through the high school level to providing cohorts of teachers with summer internships

keep awareness of future opportunities top of mind. The based on core areas. Again, it relied heavily on ideas,

district faced some obstacles in instituting the program, partnerships and processes from the business world. The

because, presenters said, many counselors were wedded district realized that many teachers had never worked in

to performing counseling duties based on testing or the private sector, and that they were pressed to explain

assigned classifications. They balked at the individualized to students the value of what they were learning as well

approach, and the district lost some counselors. as its importance to getting a good job. For instance, one

math teacher has worked with a construction company in

the summers, where he uses formulas in engineering.









3rd ANNUAL NALEO

34 National Summit on the State of Latino Education

Summit Sessions 2007 Participants





ALASKA Hon. Phillip G. Tabera, Trustee, Salinas Union

Hon. Norman D. Wooten, President, National High School District

School Boards Association; Board Member, Hon. Lillian Tafoya, Board Member, Bakersfield

“Your strongest backbone is your Kodiak Island Borough Board of Education City School District



parents. If you can strengthen the

ARIZONA COLORADO

environment for education in the Hon. Liz Barbosa, Board Member, Alhambra ESD Hon. Rafael L. Gallegos, State Representative,

households, you can strengthen it Hon. Panfilo Contreras, Executive Director, Colorado General Assembly

Arizona School Boards Association Hon. Stephanie A. Garcia, School Board Member,

in the schools.” Hon. Steve M. Gallardo, State Representative, Pueblo City Schools

Arizona House of Representatives Hon. Phyllis K. Sanchez, School Board Member,

-Mr. Eduardo Cancino, Superintendent

Hon. Adelita S. Grijalva, Board Member, Tucson Pueblo City Schools

Hidalgo Independent School District

Unified School District

Hon. Sami Y. Hamed, Board Member, Arizona CONNECTICUT

State Schools for the Deaf & Blind

Hon. Felipe Reinoso, State Representative,

Hon. David M. Lujan, State Representative, Connecticut General Assembly

Arizona House of Representatives

Hon. Cynthia Matus-Morris, Board President,

Patagonia Elementary School District FLORIDA

In addition, here are some strategies Hidalgo used to • Engaging principals makes a difference. Hidalgo Hon. Richard D. Miranda, State Senator, Arizona Hon. Cesar R. Carasa, Mayor, City of West Miami

overcome obstacles and ones they offered for possible use holds a “principals’ academy” as well as building State Senate

by other systems: many opportunities for “fierce, frank, very disciplined” Hon. Jackie Colon, Commissioner, County of

conversations. Questions such as “what are you looking Hon. Yolanda M. Nájera-Ewing, Board Member, Brevard

• A larger district attempting this type of improvement for when you’re looking for quality instruction?” come Juvenile Community Advisory Board Hon. Jesús A. Santana, Commissioner, City of

may come against the obstacle of individual schools up. Principals often will not talk or network amongst Hon. Fernando J. Shipley, Councilmember, City of West Miami

being accustomed to the central administration and themselves, so administration may need to create these Globe

superintendent not providing support. These schools networks. “Go and look at organizational charts, and I

Hon. Luz Urbaez-Weinberg, Commissioner, City of

have gotten into the habit of surviving on their own. But challenge you to find where the principals are,” said Mr. Hon. Kyrsten Sinema, State Representative, Aventura

this kind of quality improvement cannot work from the Cepeda. “We took the principals to the forefront. You Arizona House of Representatives

bottom up. Presenters said NCLB has been helpful in need to do everything in your power to provide innovative

getting information about where improvement is needed. support so that principals can be leaders of learning.” INDIANA

But the response is not to go to a teacher and demand CALIFORNIA Hon. Henry L. Fernandez, Board Member,

the reason AYP has not been met; instead, they might • Train your School Board members. Keeping board

members aware of the mission and vision and how it Hon. Felipe E. Agredano, Board President, Garvey Metropolitan School Disctrict of Lawrence

look at test scores to determine which schools need a Township

is practiced is essential for keeping it going as well as School District

science lab, for instance.

for cultivating capability. Hidalgo meets with new board Hon. Jennifer C. Baker, Trustee, Natomas Unified

members independently and goes over the programs and School District

their successes. “The first thing a board member gets is KANSAS

our focus on why we’re here, and the hard work it takes Hon. Felix Elizalde, Board Member, Alameda

County Office of Education Hon. Delia R. Garcia, State Representative,

to do this,” said Mr. Cepeda. Kansas House of Representatives

Hon. Sonia P. Jaramillo, Trustee, Gonzales Unified

School District Hon. Louis E. Ruiz, State Representative, Kansas

House of Representatives

Hon. Bertha J. Lopez, Board President, Chula

Vista Elementary School District

Hon. Luis I. Molina, Board President, Stanislaus MARYLAND

County Board of Education Hon. Ana Sol Gutierrez, Delegate, Maryland

Hon. Pearl Quiñones, Board President, House of Delegates

Sweetwater Union High School District

3rd ANNUAL NALEO

36 National Summit on the State of Latino Education

2007 Participants





MINNESOTA OKLAHOMA

Hon. Augustine Dominguez, State Representative, Hon. Robert D. Castillo, Board Member,

Minnesota House of Representatives Oklahoma City Public Schools

Hon. Sonia Mayo Hohnadel, Board of Directors

Chair, Chicano Latino Affairs Council

RHODE ISLAND

Hon. Patricia Torres Ray, State Senator,

Minnesota State Senate Hon. Juan M. Pichardo, State Senator, Rhode

Island State Senate



NEW HAMPSHIRE

TEXAS

Hon. Marilinda J. Garcia, State Representative,

New Hampshire General Court Hon. Pat Campos, Board Vice President, United

Independent School District

Hon. Viola M. Garcia, Trustee, Aldine Independent

NEW MEXICO School District

Hon. Mary Helen Garcia, State Representative, Hon. Maria G. Leal, Board Member, South Texas

New Mexico Legislature Independent School District

Hon. Nancy P. González, Board Member, Questa Hon. Joe F. Muñoz, Board Member, Kyle-Hays

Independent School District Independent School District

Hon. Martin G. Lujan, Board Vice President, Santa Hon. Dora F. Olivo, State Representative, Texas

Fe Public Schools House of Representatives

Hon. Lilliemae G. Ortiz, Board President, Hon. Manuel Rodriguez, Board President,

Pojoaque Valley School District Houston Independent School District

Hon. Patrick E. Romero, Board Member, Las Hon. Julian H. Treviño, Board President, San

Vegas City School District Antonio Independent School District

Hon. Margaret L. Tapia, Board Vice President,

Pojoaque Valley School District

WASHINGTON

Hon. Maxine J. Wilson, Councilmember, Village of

Tijeras Hon. Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney, State

Representative, Washington House of

Representatives

NEW JERSEY

Hon. Mayra Arroyo, Board Member, Vineland

Public Schools





NEW YORK

Hon. Bea Gonzalez, Council President, City of

Syracuse





OHIO

Hon. Richard Romero, Vice Chair, Ohio

Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs







3rd ANNUAL NALEO

38 National Summit on the State of Latino Education