Washington, D.C., April 11, 2003 - The President's Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans released its final report on April 9, 2003 during an event at Hialeah High School in Florida. This report, "From Risk to Opportunity: Fulfilling the Educational Needs of Hispanic Americans in the 21st Century", is the result of an extensive, 18-month review, and it represents a comprehensive effort to close the educational achievement gap for Hispanic students.

MANA, A National Latina Organization commends the Commission on this new report, and on its initiative to provide necessary educational tools to Hispanic parents and their children. Empowering Hispanic families with valuable resources and information can help improve the current educational statistics addressed in the report.

The Commission's report found that while Hispanics are now the largest minority group in the nation, the school systems are losing Hispanic students at an alarming rate. One of every three Hispanic students fails to complete high school, and only 10 percent of Hispanic students graduate from four-year colleges and universities. Historically, many Hispanic families have lacked the educational and economical opportunity to acquire the knowledge and tools required to help fulfill the high expectations that they have for their children. And regretfully, too many Americans set low expectations for Hispanic youth thus adding to barriers to educational achievement.

With these findings in mind, the President's Commission recommends six strategies to create a positive impact on Hispanic students.

• Set new and high expectations for Hispanic American children.
• Support No Child Left Behind.
• Reinforce and expand a high-quality teaching profession.
• Develop a federal research agenda to identify the needs of Hispanic American students.
• Create pathways to college education.
• Create increased federal accountability and coordination.

The report charges parents, educators, and leaders from business, local communities, faith-based institutions, and government with important roles in carrying out these recommendations.

MANA looks forward to working with the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans to ensure that the recommendations of the new report reach the local Hispanic communities that it serves across the country. "Whether it is at the local, state, or national level, we need to ensure that we are providing support to Hispanic families in order to lead young Latinos to educational success," stated Alma Morales Riojas, President and CEO of MANA. "The Commission addresses this issue head-on in their new report. We look forward to seeing these findings and recommendations applied at the grassroots level to finally see significant upward educational achievement trends for Hispanics."

For the Commission's full report, please visit http://www.yesican.gov/paceea/final.html.

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MANA, A National Latina Organization, is a nonprofit, advocacy organization headquartered in the nation's capital, Washington, D. C. With chapters across the country, it is the oldest National Latina membership organization in the United States. MANA, whose mission is to empower Latinas through leadership development, community service, and advocacy, envisions a national community of informed Latina activists working to improve the quality of life for all Hispanics. MANA also has the only national young Latina's mentoring program for girls 11 to 17, "HERMANITAS®" which brings over 100 girls to Washington DC to a summer institute that includes a briefing at the White House and a visit to the girls' Congressional representatives Information on MANA can be obtained at the web site: www.hermana.org or send an e-mail to hermana2@aol.com