A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

   FOR RELEASE                             Contact: Ivette Rodriguez    October 6, 1994                                    (202) 401-0262

PRESIDENT'S ADVISORY COMMISSION ON EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE FOR HISPANIC AMERICANS SETS AGENDA

U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley was presented Friday (Sept. 30) with a preliminary five-point agenda produced by the first meeting of the President's Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans. The commission was established by President Clinton to increase opportunities, access to federal educated-related programs, and educational excellence for Hispanics.

Representing the commission were Raul Yzaguirre, chairperson, vice-chair Ana M. "Cha" Guzman and Alfred R. Ramirez, director of the White House Initiative for Hispanic Education.

"I commend the commission for developing an agenda to increase Hispanic representation in federal education programs," Riley said. "The commissioners have made a significant contribution to high standards and educational opportunities for Hispanic Americans. Their expertise and dedication are an invaluable resource in this administration's commitment to help all students obtain a high-quality, world-class education and attain full parity in federal education programs."

The commission of 23 Hispanic advocates from the education, civil rights, business and civic association communities outlined a series of priorities to promote high-quality education initiatives and programs for Hispanics.

They include:

  1. Increasing the number of Hispanic school teachers at all levels by the year 2000;
  2. Assuring federal program equity for Latinos in qualitative and quantitative terms;
  3. Insisting on interdepartmental collaboration in the formulation of individual federal agency plans for program development, funding and annual compliance reviews of all education initiatives and programs;
  4. Allocating resources to ensure that Hispanic students are able to attain the National Education Goals established by the new Goals 2000: Educate America Act;
  5. Collecting and reporting data on Hispanic eligibility and participation in federal education programs throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, and including "Hispanic" as a standard identifier in data collection and recording.

President Clinton established the Commission and White House Initiative by executive order in February 1994 to work with the education secretary and to advise the president on ways to: eliminate educational inequities and disadvantages faced by Hispanic Americans; increase Hispanic participation in federal education programs; eliminate unintended regulatory barriers to Hispanic participation in federal education programs; promote and publicize educational opportunities and programs of interest to Hispanics; and recruit private sector, state and community involvement in improving education for Hispanics.

The commission is expected to report on federal compliance with the mandates of this executive order in October 1995.

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