Education

For many, education is seen as a pathway to the middle class, economic security, and a successful career. However, exclusionary policies have limited the accessibility to and the quality of education for Latino/a/x students. For this reason, LCLAA has fiercely advocated for an American education system that truly embraces and supports its Latino/a/x students.

our priorities

Quality Beginnings to Education: Positive early learning experiences during the vital stages of a child’s development prepare children to be better able to gain the skills they need to succeed later in life. Unfortunately, as a result of systemic barriers, Latino/a/x children continue to start kindergarten less prepared than their non-Latino/a/x White counterparts. 

This is why LCLAA calls for the following: 

  • Legislation to establish adequate universal pre-kindergarten 

  • Investment to make high-quality and equitable early childhood programs more accessible to working families

  • Increased early bilingual education programs to prepare children for a multilingual and multicultural world 

A Solid Foundation Through K-12 Education: All students, regardless of background or identity, deserve a quality education that can prepare them to thrive and succeed academically, professionally, and personally. A growing number of American students are Latino/a/x, yet inequities persist, limiting Latino/a/x students from reaching their full potential. 

This is why LCLAA calls for the following: 

  • Culturally relevant instruction and curriculums that educate students on others’ experiences and promote a sense of safety, belonging, and inclusivity 

  • Increased investment, support, and research in programming to address the needs of multilingual learners 

  • The distribution of free and nutritious school lunches to all students 

  • Greater investment in recruitment and retention of Latino/a/x educators 

Higher Education for All: A college education allows many individuals to become skilled experts ready to flourish in their careers. However, due to discriminatory policies and deeply rooted inequities, higher education is still far out of reach for working families in our communities. Latinos/as/xs continue to be less likely to complete college and earn their degrees while also being more likely to take on student debt. 

This is why LCLAA calls for the following: 

  • Reforms to lower the cost of higher education to make the accessibility of a college education a reality for working families 

  • Student loan forgiveness initiatives to once again make a higher education a pathway to the middle class 

  • Programming that makes higher education more accessible and more affordable for undocumented students in all fifty states, the U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia 

  • Further investment in Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and the Federal Pell Grant program 

Our work

podcasts

  • undocumented & unaided

    Barriers in Higher Education for Immigrant Families

    Listen Now!

  • beyond the gap

    The Unique Battle of Latina Women to Pursue Higher Education through a Childcare Crisis

    Listen Now!

  • Book Bans

    And Their Effect on Communities of Color And Teachers’ Unions

    Listen Now!

OUR RELATED RESOLUTIONS

Resolution 3: Advocating for an American Education System supportive of Latino/a/x students was adopted at

the 24th National Membership Convention in support of LCLAA’s Policy Priorities on Education

Resolution 13: Return, Recover, and Reimagine School Reopening was adopted at the 23rd National

Membership Convention in support of LCLAA’s Policy Priorities on Education