The future of our country rests in part on ensuring that Hispanic and Latinx students—one of the fastest-growing student populations in the U.S.—receive the quality, equitable education they deserve. In states like Texas, New Mexico, and California, where Hispanic students now make up the majority of K-12 students, this is a critical imperative.

We celebrate recent efforts by the federal government, including the executive order establishing the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity through Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). This policy will strengthen the role of HSIs, which educate over 4.7 million students, by increasing federal support, aligning programs with STEM and other critical fields, and securing financial stability for these institutions. This initiative ensures more opportunities for Latinx students, faculty, and alumni to succeed and drive economic mobility.

While significant strides have been made, significant disparities persist. Only 25% of Latinx adults hold an associate degree or higher compared to 51% of their white counterparts. In Texas, where 49% of K-12 students are Hispanic, the college graduation rate is 12 percentage points lower for Latinx students compared to their white peers. This trend continues to persist in states across the country. 

The underrepresentation of Hispanic teachers and leaders also remains a pressing issue. In the 2020-21 school year, only 9% of public school teachers were Hispanic/Latinx, despite 29% of the national student body being Latinx. Representation matters in education, and increasing the number of Latinx educators is essential for fostering a culturally responsive learning environment.

English learners, 77% of whom are Latinx, must also be a focus. With the number of English learners rising by 33% from 2000 to 2018, high-quality language education is critical. Moreover, with 70% of Latinx college students being the first in their families to attend college, we must provide strong support systems to ensure their success.

This Hispanic Heritage Month, we honor the resilience and progress of Hispanic students. We have seen great improvements - for example, there has been an 81% increase in Latinx participation in Advanced Placement (AP) courses between 2013 and 2023. We call on leaders and policymakers to build on our successes by investing in improving educational outcomes for Latinx and English learner students, helping them thrive not only in college but in life.

Leaders of Color remains committed to advancing Latinx representation in civic and political leadership to create an education system that reflects and serves all students equitably.

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