Parents and family are the No. 1 enablers, and the No. 1 obstacles” to student success, Sara Martinez Tucker, the undersecretary at the U.S. Department of Education, told a group of educators, parents and community organizers at the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans on Thursday.
During the daylong summit, held to discuss education reform and Hispanic education attainment, speakers tackled topics from Hispanic high school dropout rates to parental and family involvement in education. Tucker encouraged the audience to “take some of these best practices and give to communities,” to help the children.
Greater community involvement was often cited as a key component to decreasing high school dropout rates and promoting higher education, and thus, a better quality of life. Some promoted educational services to children outside of the classroom, while others lauded community-based programs.
The vice president for children’s programs, Clara López, and development director, María López, of a multifaceted program designed to help Hispanic students and parents get involved in education from pre-school to college presented on the subject.
Eduardo Cancino, assistant superintendent from Hidalgo, Texas, applauded community programs and also noted the efforts of public schools. Cancino has implemented a variety of programs focused on increasing the number of college-bound students in the community, as well as promoting adult literacy, financial literacy and parental empowerment. He said that it was important to “strengthen the home environment.
Other speakers also emphasized the importance of families.
