Understanding and Working with the New Latino Immigrant Community MALDEF Isabel Sance Program Director 34 Peachtree St. Ste Atlanta, GA Tel. (678) Fax: (678)

Who we are MALDEF is a national non-profit organization, whose primary objective is to promote, protect and defend the civil rights of Latinos through education, leadership development, and if necessary, legal action.

Why is it important? WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF IMMIGRANT STUDENTS? –According to the Urban Institute 25% of all youth are children of immigrants. –The future of America and its economy will be related to how well these children do in school. –Schools are first systematic contact with the new culture. Latino students have the highest dropout rate in the nation (approximately 50%). Georgia is one of the worst state in graduating Latino students (40%+/-).

The Latino Community in Georgia According to the census bureau, there are approximately 1 million Latinos living in Georgia. Most of the Latino population in Georgia come from Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. Spanish is the primary language spoken in Latino households. Hall, Gwinnett, Cobb, Whitfield, Colquitt, Fulton and Dekalb counties have the largest concentration of Latinos. There are approximately 200,000 Latino students enrolled in Georgia schools and over 150,000 students attend Title I schools (Georgia Department of Ed).

Make up of the Hispanic Community According to the Census 2010 estimates, there are : Approximate Hispanics Population:50,477,594 Racial Make up White26,735,713 Black 1,243,471 American Indian 685,150 Asian 209,128 NHPI 58,437 (Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander) Mestizo (some other race) 18,503,103 Two or more races 3,042,592

Hispanic Migration to Georgia Political reasons: Cubans in the 1960’s and 70’s; more recent immigrants are coming from El Salvador and Colombia Economic reasons: most immigrants are from Mexico, Central America, and Caribbean Four metro counties with the highest Latino population: Cobb, Gwinnett, Dekalb, Fulton

Education in Mexico Many parents in Mexico, especially those who live in the rural areas, have not had an education. Many, but not all, students in rural communities are isolated and poor. They are often unable to attend school due to impossible roads, family responsibilities, or the need for children to work. Some families cannot afford to pay for travel, textbooks, uniforms and other costs after 6th grade. The same is true for poor urban students, although there are more school choices where they live.

Parent Involvement in the Hispanic Community? Parent Involvement is not common in Latin America Parents may feel that no one in the school will listen to them if they cannot communicate in English. Their feelings of self-worth are diminished because they do not understand forms that are sent home. Hispanic Parents need to know what the school means by parental involvement and what the school expects from Hispanic Parents. Latino parents oftentimes do not know that they need to know

Schools Perceptions … Latino parents are responsible for the ills of low-performing schools. Declining student performance, as measured by state standardized test scores is due solely to the changing faces in the neighborhood. Low student performance is the result of an influx of uneducated families who are not supportive of an do not care about their children’s education (Quiocho & Daoud, 2010). Schools often assume that parents know basic information pertaining to school. Schools often expect that parents are literate in their own language (Illiteracy or functional illiteracy in Mexico is approximately 30% in Guatemala is over 40%).

Why is there a lack of Latino parent participation in schools? A commonly held misconception concerning Latino parents is that they do not value education and do not want to be involved in their children's education. The truth is, however, that many Latino parents tend to be hesitant about communicating with teachers and schools. The hesitance stems from: Language barriers A lack of understanding of the U.S. educational system. The inability to help children at home with school work due to low level of education and English proficiency Feeling judged by the school and teachers.

What is PSP? The Parent School Partnership Program (PSP) is a national program designed to train parents, school personnel and community-based organizations to lead in the educational attainment of children. The program offers: National Parent School Partnership Training Manual and Curriculum National Education Policy Forums National Multimedia Awareness Educational Campaigns

Objectives of the PSP Program Parents will: Learn about their rights and responsibilities within the school system. Acquire knowledge about how the school system functions. Dialogue effectively with the administrators and teachers at the school. Develop analytical, organizing, and advocacy skills and use them to make sure their children receive a good education. Increase their knowledge about college opportunities. Develop leadership skills.

Curriculum Themes Parents Rights & Responsibilities The Parent Teacher Conference Structure & Function of Schools Structure of the School District The Road to the University (Introduction to PTA) Principles of Leadership Understanding Group Process Politics of Education Accessing the Media Educational Forum Graduation

How does the PSP Program work? This program works best by partnering with a local school. (Conducting the training at a school site.) The school is chosen using a criteria that determines the needs of the school. Using the curriculum and manual designed by MALDEF. Using a holistic approach that provides parents who want – and need – to learn more about why it is important to participate in their children’s education

How to Implement PSP? Choose a school site and use the parent center, auditorium or classroom. You may also use a community center. Recruit approximately 25 to 30 parent participants for the 16- week training. Schedule an orientation time for all recruited parent participants. Establish a calendar that outlines all scheduled classes: Total of 12 weeks / Each session is 2 hours long Parent participants choose the time and the day for the classes. This process is done by majority vote of those present during your orientation for the program. The Program is FREE!

How does the PSP program help? The Parent School Partnership Program gives parents basic information about how the educational system works in the United States. The PSP program empowers parents to advocate for their children by giving them the tools to: Help their children graduate from high school and go to college. Help administrators and teachers to aide in the success of their children.

How does the PSP program help? Help organize and improve the school. Help their children when they are suspended or expelled from school. Ensure their children are at grade level and if they are not, how they can change that.

The PSP Program in Georgia MALDEF has implemented the PSP program in the following Georgia counties: Clayton, Clarke, Cobb / Marietta, Colquitt, Dekalb, Franklin, Fulton, Floyd, Gainesville City, Gwinnett, Houston, Hall, Muscogee, Peach, Rockdale, Sumter, Troup, and Whitfield. PSP Workshops and presentations have been held in: Chatham, Appling, Tift, Echols, Toombs and Forsyth counties.

Our Partners Catholic Charities YMCA Boys & Girls Club Migrant Education Program Hispanic Scholarship Fund Celia & Marcos Scholarship Fund Big Brothers & Big Sisters Head Start Families First Parent to Parent UGA, CLASE Georgia PTA Gainesville Housing Department Gainesville State University GSU Kennesaw State University Latin American Association Colquitt, Franklin, Muscogee, Houston School Systems Nuevo Laredo Restaurant

Parent Participation During the 12 years the PSP program has been implemented in Georgia, there have been over 2,800 participants and 1,600 graduates of the program.

Photo Gallery

Conclusion Parents become involved in our parent leadership program for one simple reason: their children. They love their children and want the very best for them. Foremost, our program gives parents the confidence needed to advocate for change, to face school administrators, and to monitor their child’s progress in school. They learn to partner with the school to increase the educational achievement of their children.

Resources Quiocho A.M.L., & Daoud, A., (2006) Dispelling myths about latino parent participation in schools. The Education Forum. Vol. 70. pp. 255 Harvard Educational Review, Fall 2001 Suarez-Orozco, Carola & Suarez-Orozco, Marcelo; Longitudinal Immigrant Student Adaptation Study MALDEF (678) Mexican Center (404) Latin American Association (404) Census U.S. Department of Education through the Parent Information resource center

THE END Thank you very much! Muchas Gracias por su Atención!