Alexandra Ceja, the executive director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics (WHIEEH), will join San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett, and education leaders at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 2, to discuss strategies to improve educational outcomes for Latino students and the importance of college completion in today’s economy.
Determined to help the country reach the President’s 2020 goal to have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world, the Initiative has prioritized college access among Hispanics as a key issue. Recent research indicates that the national Hispanic high school graduation rate is at 76 percent – an all-time high. Additionally, the dropout rate for Hispanic students has been cut in half over the past decade.
Sam Houston High School is located in San Antonio’s Eastside neighborhood and is one of President Obama’s first “promise zones.” Announced earlier this year, the Promise Zone Initiative is a partnership between the federal government and local communities to create jobs, expand access to educational opportunities and increase access to affordable housing.
President Obama signed Executive Order 13555 on Oct. 19, 2010, renewing the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics. This executive order demonstrates the President’s strong support for the critical role Hispanics play in the overall prosperity of the nation and highlights the administration’s commitment to expanding educational opportunities and improving educational outcomes for all students.
Participants at the Town Hall will be available for press from 3:35 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. CT.