The President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans released its final report recently. The commission, formed by President Bush in October 2001, heard from more than 1,600 parents, teachers and experts during an 18 month period, before developing an action plan to close the educational achievement gap for Hispanic Americans. The report, “From Risk to Opportunity: Fulfilling the Educational Needs of Hispanic Americans in the 21st Century,” describes the plight of the nation’s largest minority group.

One of every three Hispanic American students fails to complete high school and only 10 percent of Hispanic Americans graduate from four-year colleges and universities. This not only threatens to leave behind yet another generation of Hispanic children, but also could limit mobility in the labor force, potentially jeopardizing our country’s ability to compete economically.

The commission recommends six strategies to address the present dilemma: set new and high expectations for Hispanic American children, support No Child Left Behind, reinforce and expand a high-quality teaching profession, launch a research agenda to support Hispanic American children, create pathways to college graduation, create increased federal accountability and coordination.

“Closing the educational achievement gap of Hispanic American children is everyone’s business,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige. “The president and I believe every child can learn and with the reforms of No Child Left Behind, every child will learn. We’re not letting any more Hispanic children slip through the cracks. It’s a disgrace and it is going to stop.” #