Newsletter NHCSL

Education Update

Less than half of students in the United States are proficient in science, reports the Associated Press. What’s more, low-income students and students of color – who comprise the majority of our nation’s students – score even lower. For example, only 8 percent of Latino twelfth-graders are proficient in science, compared to 27 percent of their white classmates.

In Massachusetts, a newly released report says the wide achievement gap between Latino students and their peers is partly the state’s fault. Latino students in Massachusetts are missing an average of nearly three weeks of school a year and have lower high school graduation rates than other ethnic groups,.

The report, "The State of Latinos and Education in Massachusetts: 2010," issued by UMass-Boston’s Mauricio Gaston Institute, faulted Massachusetts on a number of fronts for failing to properly educate Latino student.

Redistricting Update

In states with high Latino populations such as Texas, Nevada and California, redistricting will put Hispanic political interests at stake. As U.S. Census data on state population movement is released in the coming months, the issue will be whether states that encountered significant growth due to an increase in Latino residency will fairly reflect these changes in the restructuring of electoral districts.

Texas saw the greatest increase in population of any state in the nation in the last decade and estimates that up to 85 percent of the 4.5 million new residents in the state are Hispanic. The Lone Star State gains four seats in Congress yet this poses a problem for Republicans who control the legislature and the process of redistricting. Any new districts must adhere to federal voting rights laws enacted to ensure the minority vote isn’t diluted.

LULAC Honors Texas State Representative Trey Martinez Fischer

On February 10th during their National Legislative Awards Gala in Washington, D.C., the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) honored NHCSL member and Texas State Representative Trey Martinez Fischer of San Antonio. In addition to Rep. Martinez Fischer, LULAC presented Legislative Awards to Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana and Congressman Pedro Pierluisi of Puerto Rico. Daniel Hernandez, Jr., the intern whose quick actions helped save Congresswoman Gabriella Gifford’s life, also received a special recognition during the Gala. Lastly, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski and Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Charlie Gonzalez spoke at the event.

LULAC released the following statement: “LULAC is proud to honor these outstanding legislators who have championed key issues important to Latinos,” said LULAC National President Margaret Moran. “We look forward to thanking them for their efforts to pass the DREAM Act, increase access to healthcare, expand educational opportunities and defend our civil rights.

Immigration and DREAM Act Update

After the defeat of the DREAM Act last year, the fight for comprehensive immigration reform has moved to the states. More states are moving to enact Arizona style immigration laws, giving authorities the power to demand that people stopped by police prove their immigration status. Copycat laws have been introduced in Nebraska, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Tennessee.

In Arizona, a new law has been proposed in the legislature requiring citizens of the state to be US citizens, with the added requirement that each person must have at least one parent who was born in the US or is a naturalized citizen. In other words, babies born in the United States to a father and mother who are both illegal immigrants would not be afforded the benefits of state citizenship, despite the guaruntees of the Federal Constitution.

New estimates from the Pew Hispanic Center find that the "number of children born to at least one unauthorized-immigrant parent in 2009 was 350,000, essentially the same as it was a year earlier."

Despite the failure of the federal DREAM ACT, a number of state legislatures have introduced bills that would allow undocumented students to attend colleges and universities at the in-state tuition rate. So-called State DREAM Acts have been proposed in Colorado, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Oregon, and Rhode Island. Kansas has introduced an opposite measure preventing undocumented resident students from attending state colleges with the benefit in-state tuition.

In Congressional matters, NHCSL President, Sen. Iris Martinez submitted a letter in response to a hearing entitled, "E-verify-Preserving Jobs for American Workers" held by the House Immigration Policy and Enforcement Subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee. The NHCSL letter expressed opposition to imposing a mandatory e-verify program without enacting comprehensive reform.

TWC Research Program on Digital Communications

Time Warner Cable has announced the second year of its Research Program on Digital Communications, which awards stipends designed to foster research dedicated to increasing understanding of the benefits and challenges facing the future of digital technologies in the home, office, classroom and community.

The 2011 Research Announcement sets forth the program’s guidelines and the list of research questions. Researchers affiliated with universities and not-for-profits are eligible to apply for the stipends. Applicants are asked to write a three page summary outlining their approach to one of the topics and to submit a brief resume for each author. Multidisciplinary teams are encouraged, to provide the broadest possible insights.

More information can be found at the research program website or by following http://twitter.com/TWC_RP. The deadlines for submission of applications are April 1, 2011 and November 1, 2011

This is an ideal opportunity for NHCSL Members and research partners to shape the debate on digital communications technology and the Latino community.

BROADBAND POLICY

On February 7, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Julius Genachowski delivered remarks on reforming the Universal Service Fund (USF) and the related Intercarrier Compensation (ICC) system. Through these reforms, Genachowski argued that America could achieve nearly universal broadband coverage.

Currently, USF programs do not subsidize broadband service and changing this is the highest priority for the FCC in modernizing the fund. Genachowski is proposing changes to the USF and ICC that would increase “oversight and accountability to ensure public money is being used wisely,” as well as a means of retrieving program funds for broadband use.

Questions remain for Latinos during these reforms on how overall USF funds will be allocated away from telephone to broadband support. Many Latinos still rely on USF subsidies for their traditional landline phone service, especially through the Low Income program that include the Lifeline and Link Up initiatives that assist low income families in having access to affordable and available telephone service. Efforts to create a broadband version of Lifeline and Link Up will be part of USF reform discussions, and must include dialogue on the specific needs of the Latino community.

The National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) is the preeminent organization representing the interests of 300 Hispanic state legislators from all states, commonwealths, and territories of the United States. Founded in 1989 as a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)3, NHCSL is a catalyst and advocate for joint action on issues of common concern, such as health, education, immigration, homeownership and economic development to all segments of the Hispanic community. NHCSL also works to design and implement policies and procedures that will impact the quality of life for Hispanic communities; serves as a forum for information exchange and member networking; an institute for leadership training; a liaison with sister U.S. Hispanic organizations; a promoter of public/private partnerships with business and labor; and a partner with Hispanic state and provincial legislators and their associations representing Central and South America. For more information visit www.nhcsl.org