• Access for all to quality Pre-Kindergarten through Higher Education.
• Additional support for economically disadvantaged and traditionally underrepresented groups.
• Teachers and administration that better reflect the student population.

BACKGROUND

In 2001, only 38% of pre-school aged Hispanics were enrolled in pre-school. Only 40% of Hispanic fourth graders scored proficient or advanced on CSAP reading, and only 36% scored proficient or advanced in math. Less than half of Colorado’s Hispanic students—47 percent—graduate from high school. Hispanics account for only 9% of total college enrollment nationwide.

POLICY-SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS

SB079: IN-STATE CLASSIFICATION & TUITION IN HIGHER ED

Sponsors Sen. Sandoval & Rep. Massey

This bill would ensure that citizen students have access to in-state tuition even if their parents are not U.S. citizens. States that a student who is a U.S. citizen shall be eligible for in-state tuition if they graduated from a public or private high school in Colorado, and they attended high school in Colorado at least 3 years immediately preceding the date they enrolled in higher education.

Status Referred to Appropriations Committee 01/31 by State Senate Affairs Committee

Position Support with qualification

SB079 clarifies that citizen students, regardless of their parents’ immigration status, should receive in-state tuition. This bill will help avoid confusion in higher education admissions offices throughout Colorado. However, SB079 should be amended to lower the number of years to qualify for in-state tuition from 3 years to 1, which is the normal standard for determining residency. Additionally, the Latina/o Advocacy Day Platform calls for all students, regardless of citizenship status, to have access to higher education and in-state tuition to truly meet the needs of all Colorado high school graduates.

SB130: INNOVATION SCHOOLS ACT OF 2008

Sponsors Sen. Groff and Sen. Spence & Rep. Witwer and Rep. T. Carroll

The ultimate goal of this bill is to raise achievement levels and help students step from high school to post-secondary education. Allows schools to submit an innovation plan to the school district board of education to make innovations in delivery of educational services, personneladministration and decision-making, and budgeting.

Status Referred to Appropriations Committee 02/21 by Senate Education Committee

Position Support

The Innovation Schools Act will help local schools have the autonomy necessary to tailor their school’s services to the needs of the students, such as creating a Saturday school or controlling their own school budget. Having this flexibility will help ensure that more students have accessto a high quality education without having so many barriers to educational reform.

NOT YET INTRODUCED: COLLEGE PREPARATION FOR ALL

Sponsors: To Be Announced

Similar to a policy adopted in Denver Public Schools, a College Preparation for All bill would establish state-wide high school graduation requirements that align with college admissions requirements.

Status: Not yet introduced

Position: Support in concept

The Latina/o Advocacy Day Platform supports the creation of statewide College Prep for All graduation requirements because they would ensure that all students, regardless of race, gender, income or neighborhood, receive a high quality education. The key to making College Prep for All succeed, however, will be to ensure that student supports, such as tutoring and after-school help, are in place to guarantee student success.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED IN THESE ISSUES

Padres Unidos/Jovenes Unidos – www.padresunidos.org - 303-458-6545

Great Education Colorado – www.greateducation.org - 303-722-5901

Colorado Children’s Campaign – www.coloradokids.org – 303-839-1580