Education:
EDUCATION
LULAC believes that education is the basis for lifelong success, and strongly opposes any measure that denies education as a fundamental right, including that of immigrant children. School curricula and textbooks should reflect the diversity of Hispanic heritage positively, be historically accurate, be language appropriate, and culturally sensitive.
LULAC supports legislation targeted at decreasing the Hispanic dropout rate and urges Congress to implement targeted programs to encourage Hispanic students to remain in school. Federal funding for LULAC National Education Service Centers (LNESC) should be continued so as to address the specific needs of our community, as well as to expand into areas not currently served.
Federal funding for Head Start, Migrants and Seasonal Head Start, Gear Up, TRIO, Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), HEP-CAMP, Title I and Title III programs should be increased and access should be expanded to ensure high participation of Latino children. Funding for Title I and Title VII programs should also be increased to address adult basic educational programs and bilingual education.
LULAC strongly opposes vouchers. All Latinos should have access to safe, quality and desegregated public education. Public schools should be improved and rehabilitated, and be provided with adequate funding to do so.
LULAC supports full-funding of the No Child Left Behind Act. LULAC strongly supports the Student Adjustment Act and the DREAM Act. LULAC urges all states to pass laws that allow undocumented immigrant children who have completed high school, are of good moral character, and reside in the state to be admitted to colleges and universities as residents and eligible for in-state tuition. LULAC also urges the federal government to grant these students citizenship after they graduate from college or university.
LULAC opposes college entry exams as the sole or primary determinant in admissions processes and supports instead multiple factors as the key to admission. LULAC opposes high stakes testing.
LULAC supports an increase in funding for Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) of higher education. LULAC supports an increase in the number of Latino educators at all levels of education, administrators and school board members, as well as teacher training and development programs to encourage Latinos to become teachers.
ENGLISH PLUS
LULAC strongly opposes all legislation that designates English as the official language of the United States or of any individual state. LULAC supports bilingual education to ensure English proficiency while encouraging students to retain proficiency in their native language. English language acquisition is imperative, but bilingualism and multilingualism are assets to be valued and preserved. LULAC advocates that English language learners shall receive an equal quality academic education with equal quality materials as native English-speaking students. Such education shall be provided by properly credentialed teachers. LULAC supports increasing programs and funding for ESL for adult students.
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