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Monday, January 30, 2012

Pierluisi Insists on a First-Rate Education for Latinos

NEW YORK, NY- Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi today participated as a panelist
at a forum on education entitled: “Keeping the Promise: Partnerships for Latino Education Success,” sponsored by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. This event brings together Latino leaders to engage in a discussion on the importance of improving education for Hispanics in the United States.

In his capacity as a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the Resident Commissioner spoke about the actions that must be taken by different sectors so that Latino students have better access to a high-quality education. Pierluisi emphasized the importance of providing Latino students with the training and support they need to take advantage of the opportunities that are available in the global economy.

“Today, one in every people entering the workforce in the United States is Hispanic. By 2025, this figure is expected to grow to two out of every three. We must work to increase the number of Latino youth who graduate from high school and from college. Education is the key to long- term success,” said Pierluisi.

Among the points highlighted by the Resident Commissioner was the need need to improve and restructure courses to help students develop leadership skills, problem-solving skills, and critical- thinking skills. Pierluisi called data showing that not all schools are providing Latinos with the opportunity to succeed “untenable and unacceptable.” He also expressed strong support for dual language and other bilingual programs, and underscored the need to encourage students to master English.

In addition, Pierluisi discussed the importance of good teachers and the need to strengthen teacher preparation programs in colleges and professional development programs in schools, particularly programs that support teachers of English-language learners.

With respect to the actions that Congress must take to support education for Hispanics, Pierluisi cited the need to protect Pell Grant funding, to keep student loan interest rates low, and to double the number of work-study jobs available.

“Every student deserves an education that prepares him or her for success after high school. Therefore, educational programs must be reformed to ensure that they are helping Latino students maximize the opportunities available in our global economy,” said the Resident Commissioner.

Participants on the panel discussed how, in the past three years, the Obama Administration has taken historic steps to help lower the amount students pay for college. During his recent State of the Union address to Congress, President Obama said: “Of course, it’s not enough for us to increase student aid . . . States also need to do their part, by making higher education a higher priority in their budgets. And colleges and universities have to do their part by working to keep costs down.”

In addition to the Resident Commissioner, the invited Members of Congress included New York Reps. José Serrano and Nydia Velázquez, who are also members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Participants with Pierluisi on the panel discussion included Pedro Noguera, a professor at New York University and the Executive Director of Metropolitan Center for Urban Education; Sarita Brown, the Executive Director of the President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics; Lissette Nieves, a member of the President’s Advisory Commission; Antonio Perez, President of the Borough of Manhattan Community College; and the moderator, José Díaz Balart, an anchor at Noticero Telemundo.