Overview

This project is designed to address California's greatest economic challenge: ensuring the adequate academic preparation of our emerging Latino majority. By naming this challenge, focusing our attention on it, and engaging communities to bridge the persistent opportunity gaps, we can overcome these challenges and prepare our state for a prosperous future.

California has experienced a significant demographic shift in the last twenty-five years. Between 1980 and 2005 Latino student enrollment increased by 187% in California public schools. Demographers predict that Latino students will soon make up a majority of California's public school population and a majority of California's workforce. However, reports indicate that fewer than 60% of Latino males currently complete high school.

These figures bring attention to the fact that Latino students face far too many obstacles to educational success, at times aggravated by the challenges of English language acquisition, and often resulting in a persistent academic achievement gap. With such rapid growth in the California Latino population, the issues our Latino students face must be resolved to ensure their prosperity and the future prosperity of California.

We must engage Latino communities in the challenges of education and help their voices be heard so that California can meet the needs of this growing segment of our population. The Vasconcellos Project is committed to mobilizing our resources to face this growing challenge.

We must guarantee all children have the opportunity to fully develop their talents and reach their potentials, for the greater their success as individuals, and for our greater success as a community.

We will be updating this page shortly and adding additional information about our efforts! Please visit again soon.

If you would like to get involved in our Community-Based Project, please contact Irene Wan at irene@politicsoftrust.net or (916) 715-3499.