BILL NUMBER: ACR 109	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 24, 2014
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 18, 2014
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 3, 2014

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Brown

                        FEBRUARY 21, 2014

   Relative to Latino Education and Advocacy Days.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   ACR 109, as amended, Brown. Latino Education and Advocacy Days.
   This measure would declare the last week of March every year as a
statewide week of advocacy for Latino education.
   Fiscal committee: no.



   WHEREAS, The strength of the California education system and its
place in a competitive global economy will depend largely on future
educational outcomes among Latino students; and
   WHEREAS, Latinos emerged as the largest  ethnic minority
group in the United States in the new millennium; and
   WHEREAS, Statistically, since 1998, Latino children have become
the largest  ethnic  minority student demographic in United
States public schools  and, according to the National Conference
of State Legislatures, more than 50 percent of all K-12 pupils in
California are Latino  ; and
   WHEREAS, Both Latino students and teachers have a high mobility
rate, are located in racially segregated communities with high
poverty rates, and attend schools with fewer resources, staffing, and
programs  . However, despite these challenges, Latino students
have shown an impressive focus on higher education  ; and

   WHEREAS, Latino students have the highest dropout rate, score
among the lowest on achievement tests, and have low college
enrollment rates; and  
   WHEREAS, One-half of all Latino students currently fail to
graduate from high school, and have had little progress in increasing
college graduation rates over the last few decades; and 

   WHEREAS, Latino students' college enrollment directly after high
school has grown from fewer than one-half to more than two-thirds
over the last decade; and  
   WHEREAS, Among California's Latino students, only three in 10 high
school graduates complete the A-G curriculum compared to nearly
one-half of white high school graduates and 65 percent of Asian
Pacific Islander high school graduates; and  
   WHEREAS, Latino students, who make up 47 percent of the
traditional college-going age population of 18 to 24 years,
inclusive, are underrepresented in every system of higher education
in California, representing only 39 percent of total undergraduate
enrollment at the California Community Colleges, 33 percent at the
California State University, and 20 percent at the University of
California; and  
   WHEREAS, Latino students also continue to have difficulty
performing on standardized testing, accessing elite colleges and
universities, and graduating with a postsecondary degree or a
graduate degree; and 
   WHEREAS, According to Current Population Survey data released by
the United States Census Bureau in March 2010, out of 100 Latino
males and 100 Latina females in elementary school, 61 Latino males
and 64 Latina females graduate from high school, 9.2 Latino males and
11 Latina females graduate with a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of
science degree, 3.0 Latino males and 3.6 Latina females graduate with
a professional or graduate degree, and 0.7 Latino males and 0.4
Latina females graduate with a doctorate degree; and 
   WHEREAS, Many other ethnic minority groups that struggle with
educational attainment could benefit from the best practices that
have resulted in the improved educational outcomes for Latino
students; and 
   WHEREAS, Latino students represent an opportunity to increase
diversity, strengthen the tax, labor, consumption, and investment
pool, and increase ties with Mexico and Latin America; and
   WHEREAS, On March 27, 2014, California State University, San
Bernardino, College of Education will host its 5th Annual Latino
Education and Advocacy Days summit; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the last week of March every year is hereby
declared as a statewide week of advocacy for Latino education; and be
it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.