HELPING HISPANIC/LATINO STUDENTS

ENROLL AND SUCCEED IN THE

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL COMMUNITY

People of Color Conference

December 2nd, 2010

10:00am-11:30am

PRESENTERS

Rosalia G-H Miller, Co-Founder & Board

Chair, Latino Student Fund

Maria Fernanda Borja, Executive Director,

Latino Student Fund

Margaret Mountjoy, Educational Programs

Manager, Latino Student Fund

PRESENTATION GOALS

Provide a better understanding of the current enrollment

trends and challenges for Hispanic/Latino students in

the independent and parochial school world.

Discuss possible ways of alleviating such difficulties and

outline what the LSF has done in the DC metropolitan

region to address them.

Gain a better understanding of how to attract and

accommodate Hispanic/Latino students and their

families in independent and parochial schools.

Arrive at an understanding as to why this endeavor is so

important in today’s society.

Discuss the LSF national expansion pilot program.

THE LSF DIFFERENCE: PROVIDING HOPE

FOR LATINOS, ONE STUDENT AT A TIME.

Angelica Ayala came to the Latino Student Fund in 2009

after her teacher led her to believe that she would not

make a viable candidate to apply to an independent

school in her area.

With the encouragement of the

LSF, Angelica and her mother

were gradually convinced that

Angelica’s good grades and

intrinsic motivation would not go

unnoticed if they applied to the

independent schools that they

had recently learned about.And so they did…

THE LATINO STUDENT FUND

Mission

Provide opportunities for a strong academic foundation for

students of Hispanic descent in grades PreK-12 to

promote higher education and professional leadership

How does LSF do this?

By ensuring equal access to the best educational

resources of the Washington, DC metropolitan area

through financial aid, academic support, and informational

outreach

HISTORY AND NECESSITY OF LSF

Founded in 1994 in Washington, D.C.

Poor school conditions

Parental frustration

Commodity Necessity

Hispanics/Latinos who are in middle or high school have a

significant gap in reading and math achievement compared

with white and Asian students (NAEP 2005)

Only about 58% of Hispanic/Latino elementary children will

go on to graduate from high school (NCLR 2009)

Proven track record

All LSF scholars have finished high school & have been

accepted to institutions of higher education

Latino Student Fund

Educational Programs

Scholars Program

Tutoring Program

•One-on-One Tutoring

•LISTO College Prep Program

•SAT Preparation Courses

•Educational Workshops

•Mentorship

•ESL Classes for family

members of tutees

•Financial Assistance

•Academic monitoring and aid

•School Application Assistance

•School Fair

•Latino College Night

•Community Building Events

THE SCHOLARS PROGRAM

Provides financial assistance, educational support,

and mentoring to PreK-12 students in the DC

metropolitan area

Scholarships are given based on academic excellence

through a competitive application process. Eligibility

requirements:

Be of Latino/Hispanic descent

Be an academically excellent student

Be accepted into an independent or parochial school

Receive financial aid from the school, archdiocese, or other

organization

The Scholars Program has provided more than 750 scholarships worth almost

$1 million since the year 2000

16%13 Scholars

25%20 Scholars

15%12 Scholars

44%35 Scholars

LSF Scholars by Grade Level

Pre-K-1st

2nd-5th

6th-8th

9th-12th

LSF Scholars: 2010-2011

$81,500 given to 80 Scholars

69%55 Scholars

16%13 Scholars

15%12 Scholars

LSF Scholars by Location

Maryland

Virginia

Washington, DC

LS

F S

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AR

SC

OM

EF

RO

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9 H

ISP

AN

ICC

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S

Argentina

Bolivia

Brazil

Colombia

Cuba

Dominican Republic

El Salvador

Ecuador

Guatemala

Honduras

Mexico

Nicaragua

Panama

Paraguay

Peru

Portugal

Puerto Rico

Spain

Venezuela

SCHOLARS PROGRAM GROWTH

6

5768

8680

0102030405060708090100

Growth of Scholars Program

4 4 5 8 8 6 3 4 5 3 11 8 8 80

5

10

15

PreK K 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th

Nu

mb

er

of

Stu

den

ts

Grade Levels

2010-2011 Scholars by grade Level

•There were over 240

applicants for the 2010-

2011 academic school year.

•LSF accepted 16 new

scholars for 2010-2011

•LSF provides financial

support to all accepted

scholars through 12th grade

LSF TUTORING PROGRAM

Growth: Started in 1998 with 5 families meeting

weekly at the National Cathedral School

The Tutoring Program has served over 1,000 at-risk

and underserved Latino students since 2000

This year (2010-2011)

Over 110 students are registered to receive tutoring!

One-on-one tutoring offered to

Latino students in PreK-12 Majority from the public school

systems in DC, MD and VA

Students receive individualized

tutoring with a concentration on

literacy and math skills

THE SUCCESS OF OUR STUDENTS

100% of our scholars complete high school and have been accepted to institutions of higher education. Last year, graduating seniors

went to schools such as Stanford University, Harvard University, Colgate University, Penn State University, Boston College & Georgetown University

We provide wrap-around services in a bilingual and culturally competent environment to ensure that our students succeed!

DISCUSSION: 5-7 MINUTES

PLEASE TURN TO THE PERSON NEXT TO YOU AND

DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

1. What are some of the challenges that you think

minority students face in the independent school

world?

2. Have you done anything to make the transition

easier for students of color in your school or

community? If so, what?

3. How could an organization like the Latino

Student Fund help Hispanic/Latino students in your

area?

WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT

If current trends continue, the Latino population, already the

nation’s largest minority group, will triple in size and will

account for most of the nation’s population growth from 2005-

2050.

Hispanics will make up 29% of the U.S. population in 2050

compared with 14% in 2005.

The value and importance of diversity in the school community

is becoming recognized more and more each day.

Parental and community involvement encourages, supports,

and provides opportunities for teachers, parents and

community leaders to work together to improve student

learning. LSF acts as a built in intermediary.

Failure to consider the integration of race, social class and

gender in the classroom can lead to an inappropriate or

simplistic prescription for educational equity and excellence.

CURRENT PUBLIC SCHOOL ENROLLMENT TRENDS

Hispanic/Latino teens are more likely than any other

racial or ethnic group to attend public high schools

that have the dual characteristic of extreme size

(over 1,838 students) and poverty. (NCES, 2003a)

They are also much more likely than whites or

blacks to attend the schools with the highest ratio of

students per teacher. (NCES, 2003a)

The dropout rate of Hispanics between 16 and

24 in 2008 was 18.3% compared to 9.9% of

Blacks and 4.8% of Whites. (U.S. Department of Education

2010)

IMPROVING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

FOR HISPANICS/LATINOS

Research has suggested that small and moderate

size schools foster more positive social and

academic environments than large schools,

especially for economically disadvantaged students (NCES, 2003a)

A significant portion of the higher dropout

propensity of Hispanic/Latino youth can be

attributed to their less favorable family

circumstances and the communities in which they

reside. (PEW Hispanic Center, 2004)

Many Hispanic/Latino students would benefit from

attending schools with a more secure and

structured learning environment.

HISPANICS/LATINOS AND INDEPENDENT

SCHOOLS

In many independent schools, minority students

represent less than 10% of the student body.

At the national level, Hispanic/Latino students make

up about 3.7% of the total independent school

student enrollment. (NAIS 2009)

The LSF would like to increase these numbers to

provide equal opportunities in education for

young Hispanics/Latinos across the United

States.

WHY?

Unequal educational expenditures have serious

consequences for the condition of school buildings,

libraries and labs, computer equipment, richness of

curricula offerings, the ability to hire experienced

and certified teachers, class size, and the variety of

extracurricular offerings.

Such disparities affect how much children learn,

how long they stay in school, their graduation rates,

and the rates at which they successfully pursue

further education after high school.

SCHOOL PROFILES

Average class size:

20.3 students

Average teacher to

student ratio: 15.8 to 1

Average computer to

student ratio: 7 to 1 (National Center for Education

Statistics 2007-2008)

Average class size:

14 students

Average teacher to

student ratio: 8.7 to 1

Average computer to

student ratio: 4 to 1(NAIS FACTS AT A GLANCE,

2009-2010)

Public Schools Independent Schools

FUTURE OUTCOMES:

U.S. PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS

In 2008, approximately 8% of students age 16-24

were not enrolled in school and had not earned a

high school credential (National Center for Education Statistics

2010)

The rate of public school students entering college

after graduation has fluctuated between 62-67% in

recent years. (NCES 2010)

In 2007-2008, only about 28% of high school

graduates from high-poverty schools attended four-

year colleges after graduation. (NCES 2010)

FUTURE OUTCOMES:

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL STUDENTS

Minority students who attend private high schools

are more than twice as likely to attend four-year

colleges than their counterparts in public schools (National Education Longitudinal Study 1988)

Graduation from a private rather than a public

school is related to attending a four-year college

(Falsey & Heyns, 1984), attending a highly selective college

(Persell et al., 1992) and earning higher income in adult

life (Lewis & Wanner, 1979)

DISCUSSION: 5-7 MINUTES

PLEASE TURN TO THE PERSON NEXT TO YOU AND

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

1. How do Hispanic/Latino students

find out about independent and

parochial schools in your area?

2. What could make the opportunity to

attend these types of schools more of

a reality for them?

LSF INDEPENDENT & PAROCHIAL SCHOOL

PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE

Who we serve: Latino families in the DC Metro area

seeking application assistance and more

information about the independent and parochial

schools in the area.

How we assist: The LSF makes school

recommendations based on the academic

performance and extracurricular interests of the

child and his or her family.

The LSF acts as a liaison between school and

family when linguistic or cultural barriers arise.

Group workshops offered: Preparing for Entrance

Exams (SSAT, ISEE), Interview Skills, Financial Aid,

and Application Essay Writing

CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS &

FAMILIES

The Latino Student Fund strives to provide a comfortable

environment for Latino families to communicate their

questions and concerns so that they have a full understanding

of the independent /parochial school community and the

expectations and possible challenges that they face.

We hold events throughout the year for our scholars and

attempt to create a sense of community between all of the

families that we serve in the independent and parochial school

community of the DC metropolitan region.

The LSF also provides tutoring for scholars who may be

struggling in school as well as a college preparation program

each fall to assist high school students with the college

application process.

SCHOLARS SPOTLIGHT: ANGELICA AYALA

THE LSF DIFFERENCE

Angelica Ayala was admitted to St. Andrew’s

Episcopal School in Potomac, Maryland this school

year where she has had many successes.

She continues to attend LSF tutoring, not because

she needs to but because she enjoys it!

Angelica is just one

example of the LSF

difference and the support

and resources that we

provide to Latino/Hispanic

families in the DC area.

PLANS FOR EXPANSION

We would like to expand the LSF Scholars program

to 5 cities nationwide by the year 2016.

San Diego

New York

ChicagoDallas/

Fort Worth

St. Louis

SHORT-TERM GOALS

LSF

Create & train an outreach team in D.C.

Contact & collaborate with school leaders

in 5 cities

Determine Guidelines for Participation

Application Process &

Recruitment of Students

Eligibility Requirements

Length of Scholarship

Accountability

Establishing how to support students and

families

Create system to track data and analyze

results

Establish record-keeping

systems

LONG-TERM GOAL CONSIDERATIONS

Rate of Expansion

How many cities per year?

How many scholarships will be awarded per

city?

Adequate Cohort

Which cities and schools have the

highest need?

How will students become aware of this scholarship

opportunity?

Logistical Management

Personal interviews, LSF

visits/year, community

building events

Report card tracking, annual

checkpoints

LSF SupportAcademic support

for scholars (Tutoring, College

Prep)

Linguistic and Cultural support

for families

FINAL GROUP DISCUSSION

Would the LSF Scholars program

benefit your area?

THANK YOU!

Please contact the Latino Student Fund to share

your thoughts.

For further information visit

www.latinostudentfund.org

or call 202-244-3438