HERE to HERE and LEAD Coalition Publish Report on Latinx College Completion Crisis During the Hispanic Education Summit
New Research Finds Challenges and Presents How Work-Based Learning Can Solve Them
October 29, 2020
For Immediate Release
NEW YORK – A new report points to important findings about the postsecondary success of Latinx students, finding that work-based learning experiences like internships address the most common barriers for Latinx college completion. The report from HERE to HERE and the Latino Education Advocacy Directors (LEAD) Coalition powered by Hispanic Federation, was released as part of the Hispanic Federation’s Annual Hispanic Education Summit earlier this month.
New York’s Latinx College Completion and Career Success Crisis: A Case for Work-Based Learning, publishes new quantitative and qualitative research about Latinx postsecondary students in New York.
Since 2007, more Latinx students are enrolling in college than ever before, at far higher rates of growth than any other racial/ethnic group. At the same time, however, these same students are increasingly leaving college without completing a degree, leaving them without the certifications that can help them find work, with experiences of failure, and in many cases, burdened by debt.
Through dozens of interviews with Latinx students who both completed and did not complete a postsecondary degree in New York State based colleges, HERE to HERE and LEAD, learned the barriers students faced in attempting to complete their degrees. Four major barriers to degree completion emerged from the focus groups:
Assistance to decide a program of study, major, and career pathway
Earlier high school support for self-exploration and pursuing interests
Ability to navigate financial aid and paperwork
Supports while in college to stay on track and connected to career goals
Each of these challenges can be addressed by providing students with internships, career exploration, and other work-based learning activities, both in high school and college. Work-based learning (WBL) is an instructional strategy that enhances classroom learning by connecting it to the workplace. Research shows that students who engage in these activities have a greater understanding of their own skills and interests, as well as the world of careers and how college programs can help them achieve them.
This report by HERE to HERE and the LEAD Coalition calls for an expansion of WBL activities for students in high school and college, on top of a foundation of rigorous academic coursework and holistic supports to keep students on track. These findings are supported by HERE to HERE and LEAD Coalition’s examination of enrollment and completion trends, these data and input from held conversations with leading organizations that work to support Latinx student success from across New York State.
“Latinx students are driving college enrollment increases across the state but we are not doing enough to support them becoming informed consumers about postsecondary education, and keeping them engaged through programs that connect to their career and personal growth goals,” said Lazar Treschan, Vice President at HERE to HERE and co-author of the report. “Internships, career exploration, and other work-based learning activities can empower students so that they can maximize their postsecondary choices.”
“Our systems need to do more to support Latinx students to have rich post-secondary choices,” said Diana E. Cruz, Education Policy Director at the Hispanic Federation and co-author of the report. “The LEAD Coalition organizations work with thousands of students who benefit from activities that engage them at deeper levels through work-based learning, high academic standards and wrap around supports for overall success. Encouraging students to build self-awareness of their skills through work-based learning activities, will prepare them to enter and succeed in higher education.”
“New York’s employer community is an untapped resource for our students and education systems,” said Abby Jo Sigal, Founding CEO of HERE to HERE. “We need to engage them to offer our students more opportunities to stay engaged and see the relevance of their schoolwork, but to unlock their passions and interests about their future careers.”
“Inequities have always existed on the path to college and career development, but it is time to create innovative sources of support that give the tools to students to not lose out on their dreams,” emphasized Frankie Miranda Hispanic Federation President. “Through work-based learning opportunities, students gain a sense of self and an understanding of their interests, desires and skills. Students also develop critical professional skills and build a professional network that during times like this make all the difference to build a sense of community.”
"NYS has the fourth largest Latinx population in the country, yet we have an alarming crisis on our hands when many of those individuals are entering college and are not able to leave with a college degree in hand,” said Executive Director of Zone 126, Anju J. Rupchandani and LEAD member. “Numerous studies have been produced on the earning level of individuals who complete college as opposed to just receiving a high school diploma, yet a growing number of our Latinx population are not reaching this level of financial success. As a first-generation Caribbean-American woman with Latinx heritage, I know the struggle of finishing high school, trying to complete college all while working full-time. The support systems that we put in place from cradle-to-college-to-career for Latinx students is critical to ensuring that they are not living paycheck-to-paycheck in their adult years, but have the opportunity to contribute back in terms of supporting other young people trying to get to and through high school and college. I fully support the recommendations put forth in this brief because it is rooted in what young people have asked adults and policy makers to agree upon that they need.”
“This report can help policymakers focus on the needed supports to boost Latinx college success,” highlights Joe Luft, Executive Director of Internationals Network for Public Schools and LEAD member. “As an organization supporting schools that serve immigrant students, this data analysis sheds light on the issues confronted by many of our students and offers some possible ways to address the obstacles confronted by immigrant Latinx students.”
“New York can do much more to keep Latinx students from having to balance school and work on their own,” said Jorge Morales, former Policy Director at Teens Take Charge. “We can do more to ensure that work is not only accredited, but used by our schools and teachers to round out traditional academic work, giving students a real understanding of who they want to be and what they want to do with their lives--while earning money to support their families.”
“According to the Community Health Profile and the U.S. Census Bureau, between 2012 and 2016, only 26% of adults in the Bronx have a college degree, 16% in the Huntspoint and Longwood areas, compared to the rest of NYC at 43%,” remarked Haydee Morales, Executive Director of Casita Maria and LEAD member. “Of these adults located in the Huntspoint and Longwood, 76% are Latino, compared to the rest of NYC at 29%. As community educators and supporters of successful holistic development, Casita Maria strives to provide our young people with tools during the elementary, middle, and high school levels that can help them navigate college and life through our Creative Youth Development framework.”
“Every student has the right to explore their talents, skills, and interests—and to access opportunities that will cultivate their learning, growth, and lifelong success, said Ramon Peguero, Esq., President & CEO, Committee for Hispanic Children & Families (CHCF) and LEAD member. “The Committee for Hispanic Children & Families (CHCF) is proud to join LEAD and Here to Here in elevating the issues of equity in access to rigorous coursework, robust academic supports and services, and opportunities for academic and career success for Latino students in New York State K-12 and in higher education. With the recommendations presented, New York has the opportunity to live up to the promise of Excelsior– Ever Upwards – by investing in targeted supports that are evidence-based best practices for supporting Black and Latino student post-secondary success.”
“El Puente is proud to join the LEAD Coalition and the Hispanic Federation in leading the conversation about what our Latinx youth need to start, thrive and graduate college. Understanding that education needs to be designed for all and not for some, institutions and our government must provide the necessary relationships, mentoring, experiences and resources to teach our new generations of Latinx Leaders,” amplified Asenhat Gomez from El Puente. “Our youth holistic education is a roadmap for individual and community transformation. They have the energy, intelligence, and leadership to succeed and thrive but we can’t ignore that everyday they confront economic, racial, and social obstacles that have only deepened with COVID 19. Institutions of higher learning have a moral obligation to put systems in place to fully support our Latinx youth. El Puente is fully committed to see the recommendations set forth in ‘Latinx College Completion Crisis: A Case for Work Based-Learning’”
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About HERE to HERE
HERE to HERE enhances paths to rewarding careers for young people by uniting employers, educators, and community-based organizations beginning in The Bronx and New York City. Our vision is a thriving, inclusive economy, in The Bronx and elsewhere, driven by meaningful partnerships between young people and employers.
https://www.heretohere.org/
About LEAD Coalition
The Latino Education Advocacy Directors (LEAD) coalition consists of leading education advocacy organizations committed to improving Latino academic outcomes and opportunities in New York State. Created by the Hispanic Federation, the coalition works to highlight and address the education needs of Latino students in the following ways: identifying and supporting effective practice; public policy advocacy and research; and the advancement of a shared educational agenda.
The LEAD Coalition is powered by Hispanic Federation
The mission of the Hispanic Federation is to empower and advance the Hispanic community. Hispanic Federation provides grants and services to a broad network of Latino non-profit agencies serving the most vulnerable members of the Hispanic community and advocates nationally on vital issues of education, health, immigration, civil rights, economic empowerment, civic engagement, and the environment. For more information, please visit www.HispanicFederation.org.
