Excelencia in Education: Promoting Hispanic excellence in school

So much of the conversation regarding the education of Latinos in America is negative these days; however, non-profit group Excelencia in Education is actively attempting to not only change the tone but frame the conversation to promote the positive examples where Hispanics are excelling in school.

Part of the Excelencia in Education mission is to create a national platform promoting institutions of higher education of note. Specifically, this is done in a high-profile fashion annually with the release of the Examples of Excelencia report.

The 2014 edition of “What Works for Latino Students in Higher Education Compendium,” which was released this week, highlights four Examples of Excellencia, as well as 15 finalist programs and 10 honorable mention programs from 26 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. All make a positive difference in the educational achievement of Latino students in higher education.

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“We try to identify from an evidence-based perspective what is working across the country because so much of the dialogue and conversations about Latinos and education was so deficit based,” Excelencia in Education Co-Founder & Vice President for Policy & Research Deborah A. Santiago told VOXXI. “The idea was more to say there are good things happening across the country and let’s focus on what’s working and try to increase it rather than just lamenting this status for education of Latinos is low.”

Regarding Examples of Excellencia, institutions were nominated in four categories: associate, baccalaureate, graduate and community-based organizations (CBOs).

“This is the first year we’re recognizing CBOs,” Santiago said. “Also, the honorable mentions generally haven’t been around a sufficient amount of time. We require they’ve been working for three to five years at a minimum so we can show data of sustainability.

“So, some of these are really interesting and innovative but they might not have been around that long. Or the program is compelling even if they don’t have great data right now.”

Santiago said Examples of Excelencia is a resource for other institutions and CBOs considering efforts to improve their services to Latino students.

“We’ve seen an increase of programs focused on retention, whereas in the past we tend to get more focused on access,” Santiago said. “I think that’s big. We’re also continuing to see a great diversity and geographic representation.”

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She added that this year’s data shows a growing network of programs and practices at institutions across the country that are doing evidence-based work for Latinos from which others can learn. Because of this, Santiago said it’s her opinion there really shouldn’t be any excuse for not serving the Latino population.

“You have tons of examples from all over the country where there are effective practices,” Santiago said. “If I had to go into a concrete element on what works, when I look at the common thread, we see that cohort models tend to work for Latino students. They work for all students but we know with evidence they work for Latino students very well.

“That’s something that we think people should know and understand, as they look to serve Latinos. You have to include them if they’re going to be served.”