Member Advisory - January 15, 2008

HACU urges support of legislative recommendations for Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Reauthorization Policy Agenda

The No Child Left Behind Act (also know as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act) is up for reauthorization this year. HACU has submitted to Congress its legislative recommendations for increasing federal support to Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs).  HACU's recommendations include thirteen  amendments to the ESEA to support collaborative programs between HSIs and Hispanic-Serving School Districts (HSSDs) or other school districts to address Hispanic achievement in the nation's elementary, middle, and secondary schools. Specific programs focus on teacher development and research on pedagogy to improve the education success of the increasingly diverse K-12 student body.

First signed into law in 1965, the Elementary and Secondary Education (ESEA) is an extensive statute which funds primary and secondary education by authorizing funds for educators' professional development, instructional materials and resources, and educational programs to promote parental involvement.  Since 2000 the ESEA has been known as the No Child Left Behind Act.

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act reauthorization faces new educational challenges as it attempts to reconfigure educational processes to address the need for an American workforce for a "knowledge-based" and global economy. The education of the nation's fastest growing ethnic population is vital to the nation's future economic strength, security and global leadership.

The HACU ESEA policy agenda addresses the need for culturally and linguistically competent teachers and teaching assistants, especially in early childhood education but also throughout the  system to better address the needs of Hispanic students and English language learners (ELLs).

It includes recommendations to fund programs establishing collaborative relationships between HSIs and Hispanic-Serving School Districts (HSSDs). The aim is to prepare teachers with competency in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields and to expand the number of STEM Advanced Placement courses offered in high schools to improve college readiness.

Strong, effective and fair administration is essential to student education success. The HACU ESEA policy agenda seeks support for training culturally competent principals, superintendents and other high level school officials for the growing number of HSSDs and other schools with high numbers of minority students.

HACU is asking Congress to include the thirteen policy recommendations in the 2008 ESEA/NCLB Reauthorization bill which Congress is expected to pass during the 110th Congress.

HACU needs your help. We urge the leadership of every HACU-member institution to contact their Congressional Representatives and U.S. Senators to request their support of the HACU Elementary and Secondary Education Act Policy Agenda for 2008. 

Your action on this issue will make the difference for your institutions and for the nation. 

YOUR LEADERSHIP WILL MAKE THE DIFFERENCE!

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Please contact HACU's Washington D.C. office at (202) 833-8361 for any additional information or assistance on legislation affecting Hispanic-Serving Institutions.