Feb 27, 2015 - LATINO AND EDUCATION COALITIONS JOIN IN OPPOSITION TO HOUSE ESEA REAUTHORIZATION BILL

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION
February 27, 2015

Bill would eliminate tools that have improved Latino educational achievement

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 39 of the nation's preeminent Latino organizations, joined with the Hispanic Education Coalition (HEC) in writing to U.S. Representatives today, urging a vote against H.R. 5, the Student Success Act, which would dismantle provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act that have contributed to improved Latino educational achievement in the past decade and a half.

NHLA and HEC oppose H.R. 5 because the bill would block grant Title III programs for English learners, remove performance targets for the academic achievement of Latinos and English learners, and remove accountability for the achievement and learning gains of Latinos and English learners.

Today's letter marks the first action taken by the Latinos United for Educational Opportunity campaign, established by NHLA earlier this week to bring more Latino voices into the public debate for advancing policies that will lead to improved Latino educational achievement.

Full text of the letter can be found here.

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Established in 1991, the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA) brings together Hispanic leaders to establish policy priorities that address, and raise public awareness of, the major issues affecting the Latino community and the nation as a whole. For more information, please visit www.nationalhispanicleadership.org and LatinosUnited.org and follow @NHLAgenda.

The Hispanic Education Coalition unites 14 organizations dedicated to improving educational opportunities and outcomes for the more than 54 million Latinos living in the United States and Puerto Rico.