Photo credit: www.higheredjobs.com
A recent analysis from The Education Trust highlights significant challenges facing Latino students in public colleges and universities across the United States. The report, titled “Broken Mirrors II: Latino Student Representation at Public State Colleges and Universities,” reveals that despite the growing Latino population and increasing demand for a college-educated workforce, this demographic remains notably underrepresented in higher education institutions in many states.
Examining data from 44 states—excluding those with fewer than 15,000 Latino residents aged 25 to 64—the report outlines stark disparities between the percentage of Latinos enrolled in public colleges and the overall Latino population in those states. Alarmingly, in 40 of the 44 states assessed, Latino students are particularly underrepresented at community and technical colleges, and in 33 states, their enrollment numbers in four-year public institutions fall short compared to state demographics.
“States have the autonomy and authority to genuinely allocate funding and hold institutions accountable for their performance,” noted Dr. Kayla Elliott, a senior policy analyst for higher education at The Education Trust.
Alongside the main report, a State Equity Report Card (http://www.stateequity.org/) allows for a comparative analysis of how individual states perform regarding Latino student enrollment and provides insights into the number of Latino graduates needed to achieve proportional representation.
“The intention is to motivate state policymakers to enhance access to higher education for Latino populations while also equipping advocates with necessary tools,” said J. Oliver Schak, lead author of the report. “It is crucial for state leaders to cultivate conditions conducive to higher Latino enrollment and graduation rates.”
The data used in the report stems from the American Community Survey conducted by the Census Bureau, specifically analyzing trends from 2014 to 2016. While there are substantial enrollments of Latinos in community colleges, the report indicates that these numbers do not align with the broader demographic representations within the states.
The findings also shed light on the lack of access to selective public four-year institutions for Latino students compared to their White counterparts, particularly in states with significant Latino populations such as California, Texas, Florida, and New York, where enrollment disparities reach 10 percentage points or more.
However, the report does highlight some encouraging trends. Florida emerges as a leader in Latino enrollment at two-year public colleges and ranks alongside Texas, New Mexico, New York, and California in the top tier for associate degree attainment. Notably, New Mexico and Florida have shown promising results in terms of Latino bachelor’s degree completion rates.
“States like New York and Florida stand out notably for Latino enrollment in public four-year institutions,” Schak remarked, suggesting further investigation into these states could yield valuable insights.
The Education Trust report also encourages states to delve deeper into the underlying causes of educational inequities, particularly within the K-12 system where discrepancies disproportionately affect students of color. Dr. Elliott emphasized the lack of resources allocated to Latino students in primary and secondary schools, which ultimately predisposes them to being underprepared for higher education. These challenges are compounded by the funding and policy frameworks established at the state level.
“The patterns established in K-12 education persist into higher education,” Elliott stated, noting that many students of color continue to attend institutions that are under-resourced.
The report proposes that states should implement targets for college degree attainment that are disaggregated by race and income, a strategy deemed vital in addressing existing inequities.
“Over 30 states have adopted attainment goals, and it’s imperative that we elevate our approach to genuinely tackle equity concerns,” Elliott asserted. “It’s essential to customize every intervention to the specific challenges and opportunities present in each state.”
Source
www.higheredjobs.com