The Center for Community Development and Civil Rights at Arizona State University envisions this program as a long-term process to address and close the educational achievement gap of young Latino males. 

The low levels of educational attainment among Latinos at every point along the educational pipeline are well-known.  Compared to non-Latinos, Latinos are less likely to attend pre-school, more likely to fall behind grade level, dropout, and less likely to be placed in rigorous academic tracks, take AP courses, or enroll in college.  And while this problem is experienced across the Latino community, it is becoming increasingly acute among males.

It is also well-known that without a high school diploma, and increasingly a college degree, one is ill-prepared to succeed in the United States' knowledge- and technology-based society.  Additionally, the rapid growth of the Latino population, coupled with the continued academic underachievement, foretells a serious national economic and social crisis.

• A 2004 study by the Civil Rights Project at Harvard noted that the national graduation rate for Hispanics who enroll in 9th grade was 53.2%, 58.5% for Latinas and 48% for Latinos.  This is compared to a cumulative rate of 74.9% for Whites (77% for White females and 70.8% for males).  This same study also noted a systemic underreporting in dropout rates, especially for poor and students of color. 
• A 2006 study by the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center (CSCR) states that in 2000, out of 100 Latino male and 100 Latina female students who enroll in elementary school nationwide, only 51 males and 54 females graduate high school.   For every 100 male and 100 female white students enrolled, 83 males and 84 females graduate.
• The same CSCR report notes when Mexican-Americans are disaggregated, the numbers fall to 44 males and 47 females.
• In 2006, the Arizona Minority Education Policy Analysis Center reported that in 2002 only 10.6% of the few Hispanics graduating in Arizona met "assured" enrollment requirements for the state's three public universities.  The other 89.4% of Hispanic graduates lacked the adequate college preparatory work in high school to qualify for "assured" admission.
• Whatever the report or means of measuring, the state of education among Latinos is dire.

As an initial response to this continuing crisis, the Center for Community Development and Civil Rights has launched a three phase multi-year demonstration project: best practices review, focus group interviews, and a symposium.  These three initial phases will result in the implementation and support of model programs.

For additional reading materials, click here.