 Download this press release as a PDF document.
Washington, D.C.--(HISPANIC PR WIRE – U.S. NEWSWIRE)--September 13, 2006--Addressing a room full of Latino elected officials from across the country, U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings headlined this year’s National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund 2nd Annual National Summit on the State of Latino Education.
The NALEO Educational Fund, the leading organization that empowers Latinos to participate fully in the American political process, has convened Latino state legislators, municipal officials, and school board members from across the United Stated to participate in a three day meeting to address the current state of education for Latino students from preschool to graduate school (P-20).
Today’s opening session The State of Latino Education highlighted the latest national data related to Latino student achievement, in addition to providing an update on education-related legislation on Capitol Hill. This information will lay the groundwork for Summit participants to be able to develop and/or revise strategic plans for closing the Latino academic achievement gap in their communities.
The goal of the educational summit is to enhance the working knowledge of elected officials on the state of Latino education by engaging them in a cross-jurisdictional dialogue pertaining to No Child Left Behind (NCLB), higher education access, English-language learners, curriculum alignment, and high school retention and attrition – all critical to closing the education gap among Latino students.
"Every student matters. Our schools must be prepared to measure what English language learners know and to teach them effectively, with proven instructional methods. With the help of NALEO, no Latino child will be left behind," said Spellings.
“A convening of educational experts like this is where local, state, and federal officials gather to dialogue, strategize, share best practices and create partnerships that are crucial to closing the achievement gap among Latino students,” states Marcelo Gaete, Senior Director of Programs for the NALEO Educational Fund. “Closing the achievement gap for Latino students is not only critical for their futures, but also for the future of the nation. As a nation we cannot afford to wait any longer, with Latino students now the second-largest group of schoolchildren in the country, America’s future depends greatly on these children and we must work together to close the achievement gap and help them fulfill their true academic potential,” continued Gaete.
About the NALEO Educational Fund
The NALEO Educational Fund is the leading organization that empowers Latinos to participate fully in the American political process, from citizenship to public service. The NALEO Educational Fund is a national non-profit, non-partisan organization whose constituency includes the more than 6,000 Latino elected and appointed officials nationwide.
|
CONTACT
Olga Quiñónez
(323) 286-9684 cell |
|
