Lieberman Committed to Boosting Educational Achievement among Latino Students
Press Release
Lieberman Committed to Boosting Educational Achievement among Latino Students
Senator Joe Lieberman (ID-Conn.) Tuesday pledged to strengthen federal education programs to close the achievement gap facing Latino students and other minority groups, following the release of new data highlighting the challenges and issues facing young Latinos pursuing higher education. While nearly 98 percent of Latino high school students say they want to go to college and nearly 95 percent say they realistically believe they will graduate from college, only 25 percent were actually enrolled in 2004, according to a study conducted by the National Research Center for College University Admissions and the Hispanic Heritage Foundation released Tuesday at a press conference. In addition, 24 percent of Latinos drop out of high school, compared with only 12 percent of African-Americans and 7 percent of Caucasians. "The statistics presented today make one thing crystal clear: there is a large discrepancy between the college aspirations of Latino youth, and the reality of success. These numbers are a charge to each and every one of us who has the ability to do something about this issue and to do so quickly and with urgency," Lieberman said. "I commend the Hispanic Heritage Foundation and the other organizations that joined in this effort for their dedication to addressing this issue. I will continue my efforts to close the achievement gap and work toward ensuring equal access for all American students." Lieberman said that the federal government can address this achievement gap by supporting the goals of and fully funding No Child Left Behind as well as improving college affordability and strengthening programs that reach out to high school and college minorities to give them counseling and support for attending college. "We need to be demanding," Lieberman said. "We will not make the American dream accessible and real to the coming generations, including in particular the growing Latino population, unless we focus on our education system." Other participants at the press conference included Congresswoman Hilda Solis, D-Calif., and Antonio Tijerino, President and CEO of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation.
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