December 12, 2006

Report Urges California to Raise Hispanic College-Going Rate, and Suggests How to Do So

California must do more to get more members of its growing Hispanic population to enroll in college and to earn four-year degrees, if the state wants to remain economically competitive, according a report released today. The report, “California Policy Options to Accelerate Latino Success in Higher Education,” was released by Excelencia in Education, a Washington-based group that seeks to accelerate Hispanic students’ achievement in higher education.

The document notes that educational attainment among Hispanic Californians is low. In 2005, the report says, only 9 percent of Hispanic residents age 25 and older held at least a bachelor’s degree. The report proposes many policies and strategies California should consider to try to increase awareness of college preparation among Hispanic and other communities underrepresented in higher education; to try to make college more affordable for students from all economic backgrounds; and to try to increase the number of Californians who hold postsecondary degrees.

The report recommends, among other things, that California provide all new parents in hospital maternity wards with informational packets on how to prepare and save for college, offer financial incentives to students to stay enrolled in higher education, expand state tax incentives for employers to support their employees’ education, and increase state support of colleges that enroll large percentages of students from underrepresented groups.

Comments

1. Considering the abysmal state of primary and secondary education in California, I hope those based in far-off Washington were able to see that we very much need public schools that adequately prepare students for college, regardless of race.

   And considering the number of students in the state’s colleges and universities who are residents but not born in California, I would suggest the maternity ward package is not a strong idea.

   — Dana B    Dec 13, 05:25 AM    #

2. Regardless of color, gender or ethnicity, the catalyst for diversified enrollment lies in the awareness and attitudes of the parents/significant adults in the students’ lives. When poor to middle income students and adult caregivers of any race, receive the message throughout the K-12 years, “Higher education is economically possible – an achievable option – for motivated students of any economic means; and help is available to complete the paperwork/enrollment process,” the parents and students in these underrepresented groups will have hope. The adults and students will begin to view themselves as “college bound.” Providing information on saving for college and handing out occassional fliers will only perpetuate discouragement in parents who are barely getting by financially or can’t read the application in front of them. First, the mentality of hopelessness must be replaced with a vision of nondiscriminatory opportunity.

   — RB - Pennsylvania    Dec 13, 10:57 AM    #

3. As a former citizen of the state of California, I hope that the state eventually realizes that to solve this problem, it has to rid itself of the self-inflicted wound called Proposition 209. It was disheartening to see that Michigan has recently gone the same route. People need to learn that when economic hard times set in, the last thing a state needs is to exclude a significant portion of its workforce from reaching its full potential.

   — Bob M    Dec 16, 11:51 AM    #

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