Latino American Students Current Events

1. Latino American Students
Current Events
By:
Shelby Thomas
EDUC&202OL

2. Where are we now?
* In September 2015
President Obama
announced 150
Commitments to Action
with a collective
investment of over
$335million that can be
built on for Latino’s in
Education.
* Latino’s makeup 12.2%
of Washington States
Population in 2014 and
17.4% in the USA

3. Dropout Rate in High School
Over the past decade, the Latino high school dropout rate has dropped
dramatically. The rate has reached a record low, dropping from 32% in 2000 to
14% in 2013 among those ages 18 to 24 years old. Over the same time period,
this has helped lower the U.S. national dropout rate from 12% to 7% – also a
record low. However, the Latino dropout rate remains higher than it is among
blacks (8%), whites (5%) and Asians (4%).

4. Latinos College Enrollment
The number of Latino ages 18 to 24 enrolled in a two- or four-year college has
more than tripled since 1993. In 2013, 2.2 million Latino’s were enrolled in
college, up from 728,000 in 1993 – a 201% increase. By comparison, college
enrollment increased by 78% among blacks and 14% among whites over the
same time period. Today, Latino’s are the largest minority group on U.S. college
campuses.

5. Where are Latino’s When It
Comes to Secondary Education
Even though more Latino’s are getting a postsecondary education than ever before,
Latino’s still lag other groups in obtaining a four-year degree. In 2013, among Latino’s
ages 25 to 29, just 15% of Latino’s have a bachelor’s degree or higher. By comparison,
among the same age group, about 40% of whites have a bachelor’s degree or higher
(as do 20% of blacks and 60% of Asians). This gap is due in part to the fact that Latino’s
are less likely than some other groups to enroll in a four-year college, attend an
academically selective college and enroll full-time.

6. Why do Latino’s Lack a 4 year
degree
Another reason Latino’s lag in bachelor’s degrees is that nearly half who
go to college attend a public two-year school, the highest share of any
race or ethnicity. By comparison, among college-goers, 30% of whites,
32% of Asians and 34% of blacks go to a community college.

7. Is Education currently on the rise?
Year
Ethnicity 1975 1985 1995 2005 2008
Caucasian 24 24 29 34 37
African American 11 12 15 18 21
Latino 9 11 9 11 12
The figures represent the percentage of 25- to 29-year-olds in the United States who completed a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: Current Population Survey (CPS), Annual Socialand Economic Study Supplement,1971–2005, previously unpublished tabulation, November 2005, and American Community Survey 2008, by U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Commerce.
Yes Latino education for a Bachelors is on the rise starting with a 9% of the population obtaining a B.A. in 1975 to
12% completing a Bachelors in 2008. The worry is that these numbers are still well below African Americans with
21% graduating in 2008 and 37% Caucasian graduating per 2008 records. In 2013, the U.S. Census estimated the
number of Latino students enrolled in college rose by more than 50% from years 2008 to 2012.

8. Latino’s in early education
By the time a child is five years old, 90 percent of his or her brain is fully formed. Children
who have rich early learning experiences before the age of five are better prepared to
thrive in kindergarten and beyond, yet the United States ranks 28th in the world in
preschool enrollment. The benefits of an early childhood education are particularly
powerful among children from low-income families who, on average, start Kindergarten
12 to 14 months behind their peers in pre-reading and language skills, evidence that the
achievement gap begins as early as kindergarten. While Latino’s make up about one
quarter of students in public schools, only 20 percent of Hispanic 3- to 5-year olds are
enrolled in preschool programs and for those who do attend, program quality varies
widely.

9. STEM Education for Latino’s
Between 2010 and 2020 the overall employment in Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics (STEM) occupations is projected to increase by 17 percent, yet not enough
Latino students are pursuing degrees and careers in the STEM fields to meet the increasing
demand. Only 67 percent of Latino students have access to a full range of STEM courses
(Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Calculus, Biology, Chemistry and Physics) in high school.
The lack of STEM representation is more prevalent at the postsecondary level with only
8.8% percent of Latinas completing their STEM bachelor’s degree.more Latinos, including
girls and young women, in rigorous STEM courses and research opportunities; promote
STEM careers through mentorships, internships, after school programming, and summer
opportunities that can put these students on track to pursue STEM disciplines in college;
increase the STEM teacher workforce; or provide resources for STEM teachers.

10. Grants Available Currently for Latino Students
•Hispanic students considering degrees in health care may qualify for grants and scholarships executed by the
National Association of Hispanic Nurses, the March of Dimes Nursing Scholarship program, the Scholarship for
Disadvantaged Students program, and the Nursing Education Loan Repayment program. Additionally, the
Department of Health and Human Services - Bureau of Health Professions, provides financial support to
institutions offering high-quality degree programs that target minorities seeking health care careers.
•The Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) maintains a listing of current grants and scholarships for Latino students here.
The list includes corporate scholarships and general HSF funding that increases access for undereducated groups,
like Hispanic students returning to college and 2-year degree candidates that plan to continue into 4-year programs.
•New Mexico Hispanic Women’s Council awards several $2000 scholarships yearly to Latinas enrolled full-time at
University of New Mexico or Central New Mexico Community College.
•States issue grants to minority students in order to promote educational diversity and stimulate enrollment among
specific groups. In Wisconsin, Hispanic students qualify for Wisconsin Minority Undergraduate Retention Grants,
which provide tuition assistance for minority students enrolled at least half-time in Wisconsin Technical Colleges. In
Texas, Hispanic students who are enrolled in nursing programs benefit from grants designed to support higher
education among the state’s significant Latino population.
•The Hispanic College Fund is a D.C. based non-profit dedicated to promoting the next generation of Hispanic
professionals. Providing vision and resources, the organization puts forth scholarship and grant opportunities
for Hispanic Americans, including a science-oriented grant administered through a partnership with NASA. NASA
scholars earn one-time grants worth 10K, and a chance to participate in space program internships.

11. Top 25

12. Bibliography
• http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-
leadership/feb10/vol67/num05/The-Latino-Education-Crisis.aspx
• http://sites.ed.gov/hispanic-initiative/files/2015/03/WHIEEH-
Timeline_Comp_REV-3-508.pdf
• http://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045215/53,00
• http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/05/26/5-facts-about-
latinos-and-education/
• http://www.collegescholarships.org/grants/hispanic.htm
• http://www.nccpsafety.org/assets/files/library/The_Condition_of_Lat
inos_in_Education.pdf