EdCircuit StaffTable of Contents
SEL and college readiness initiatives are among the key efforts taking place across the U.S. At the national level, the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) is increasing awareness among policymakers to support better the Hispanic-serving institutions that are a large and important part of the U.S. higher education system.
Supporting Success in Hispanic-Serving School Districts (HSSDs)
As Hispanic students achieve success in higher education, it is also a reminder that more than half the battle toward equitable outcomes is won at the K-12 level. Dr. Antonio R. Flores, President & CEO of the Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities (HACU) and Jeanette Morales, Director of PK-12 Initiatives, are working in tandem to ensure programs are in place to support success in Hispanic-Serving School Districts (HSSDs), defined as K-12 districts whose total enrollment is at least 25 percent Hispanic, and who are affiliate members of HACU.
Career and College Readiness
Improving the high school graduation rate is one goal, but equally important is a specific focus on college and career readiness. “It becomes central to our mission─the collaborative efforts between Hispanic-serving institutions and Hispanic-Serving School Districts. Together, they represent a continuum for Latinos’ success from kindergarten through higher education,” says Dr. Flores.
Strength with Partnerships
There is a need to become more effective in messaging support of HSIs and HSSDs with private entities. After all, as Dr. Flores states, it’s the private sector that benefits the most in the end, “The workforce of this nation is becoming increasingly brown and also the demands for a much better educated and trained workforce continue. The beneficiaries are primarily corporations and private sector employers. They need to become more attuned to how they can also be part of the solution.”
Increased awareness starts at the state level, where the sharing of information becomes essential. “We need to share best practices of places that are doing great things whether it’s California, Texas, Florida, or other states where we already have a strong presence as an association and where we have been able to develop partnerships between HSSDs and Hispanic-serving institutions,” says Dr. Flores.
Social Emotional Learning
There are limited resources in education when it comes to supportive services for students, so merging social-emotional learning into the curriculum becomes even more critical. As Jeanette explains, “There are shootings in schools, bullying on social media, and all kinds of pressures that students encounter on a day-to-day basis, but we haven’t given them the skills or tools necessary to deal with them in a positive manner. Through this curriculum, we’re able to set down the foundations and start telling kids that there are other ways they can deal with emotions, and there are other avenues that can address the challenges and obstacles in their lives.”
Building Success Rates in the Hispanic Communities
HSIs have continued to grow over the last 15 years with even greater growth scheduled for the future. With the upcoming reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, it’s expected that powerful Title V adjustments will positively affect HSIs moving forward. Dr. Flores points to concentrated funding that will create an impact, “A focus on funding clusters of…education institutions that are HSIs and HSSDs to work in an intentional and effective way to increase the success rates of all students, not just Hispanics, but all others who attend those school districts and HSIs.”
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