December 10, 2007 -- Educators, counselors, and administrators in Michigan's K-16 system met today to discuss the state of education for Michigan's Spanish-speaking students. The First Annual Statewide Education Summit sponsored by the Michigan Commission on Spanish-Speaking Affairs (COSSA) and Lansing Community College provided a forum for participants to address the challenges and disparities of educational attainment facing Michigan's Spanish-speaking students. The theme of the conference was "Postsecondary Education for All - Transition to Success!"  

"Getting our kids better educated in pre-kindergarten through college programs and increasing Hispanic parents' involvement in their children's education will be key to closing the education gap," said COSSA Education Committee Chair, Arminda Garcia.

Improving outcomes for Michigan's Hispanic students in higher education is a top priority of the Commission.  COSSA's strategic plan through 2011 identifies 10 top educational challenges for Spanish-speaking students which were the focus at today's Summit. They are: aligning rigorous and articulated curriculum with state education requirements; improving equal access to education; developing diversity awareness among educators and leaders; recruiting and retaining highly qualified bilingual educators; emphasizing the importance of an educational pipeline for students from pre-school through higher education; alleviating economic challenges of educating K-16 students; improving educational awareness among Spanish-speaking parents; addressing students' social and peer pressures; recruiting and retaining Spanish-speaking students in postsecondary education; and increasing mentoring and internships through private sector partnerships. 

"Promoting higher education and advanced training beyond high school for Michigan's Hispanic students who are our future workforce will be a significant factor in Michigan's economic transformation," said Keith W. Cooley, director of the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth, the state department that includes COSSA. "We're determined to break down the barriers to postsecondary education and break the norm of high attrition rates," he said, referring to the U.S. Department of Education study which indicates that for every 100 Hispanic children entering kindergarten, 63 will graduate from high school and only 11 will obtain a bachelor's degree by the age of 29.

The Summit also featured insight from speakers including keynote Mike Flanagan, State Superintendent of Public Instruction; Judith Cardenas, President, Lansing Community College; and Carlos Lopez, Assistant Superintendent, Oak Park School District.

The Commission on Spanish-Speaking Affairs was created in 1975 to serve Michigan's growing Spanish-speaking population which is today the second-largest and fastest-growing minority group in Michigan. The Commission is made  up of 15 individuals appointed by the Governor to develop policies and plans to serve the needs of Michigan's Spanish-speaking people.

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