​For the U.S. to again have the highest number of citizens with college credentials, it will have to focus on Latinos, who comprise the fastest-growing population in the country. To do that will require help from community colleges.

That was the theme Thursday of a U.S. Department of Labor-sponsored panel that discussed building pipelines to postsecondary education for Latinos, from young children to adult learners. Rep. Charles Gonzalez (D-Texas), chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, kicked off the event by presenting the main challenge to improving educational attainment among Latinos: Getting the country to recognize the important role Latinos will play in the economic strength of the U.S.

Winning the Future: Improving Education for the Latino Community

There are 50 million Latinos in the U.S., and their population continues to increase, Gonzalez said. However, Latinos have had difficulty succeeding in education. Between 30 percent and 40 percent of Latinos drop out of high school, he said. Even if those dropouts eventually attain their GED, they are often assigned to developmental courses in college.

“They’re showing up for college, but they are not ready for college-level work,” agreed Juan Sepulveda, director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics.

Partnering for resources

With Congress and state governments focused on reining in spending, education advocates should not expect new public resources, Gonzalez said. Instead, community organizations such as businesses, K-12, community colleges and workforce training groups should partner and rethink how to use available resources. For example, communities could use school facilities at night and on weekends for training and education activities.

“Our facilities and personnel are truly underutilized,” Gonzalez said.

The workplace is another area that is underutilized for training and education. Panelists noted that a growing number of businesses and other organizations are considering implementing programs that promote learning while working, with community colleges often providing the services.

“That will be the critical strategy for many communities,” said Jeannine La Prad, president of the Corporation for a Skilled Workforce. “Learning and work go hand-in-hand.”

That’s a concept McDonald’s Corp. has grasped, said Steve Russell, the company’s senior vice president and “chief people officer.” McDonald’s operates an “English Under the Arches” program for entry-level workers who need to improve their English. The program, which is running in 30 communities across the U.S., partners with local community colleges. The colleges provide English-as-a-second-language instructors to teach employees while they are at work. Such on-the-job instruction eliminates the need for employees to schedule classes on their own time, Russell said.

McDonald’s has a strong grow-your-own culture, where many employees move up the company ranks, Russell said. Three-fourths of McDonald’s managers started as entry-level employees, as did half of its franchise owners—including the CEO.

Employees can also earn college credit for certain training, Russell added.

Better business ties

Excelencia in Education will soon issue a report on how business leaders can get involved in educating Latinos. One of the recommendations will be to partner with community colleges to strengthen program relevance and performance. 

“Because over 53 percent of Latinos enrolled in college are in community colleges, this focus is critical to Latino advancement and achievement,” according to an executive summary of the upcoming report available at Thursday’s event. “Employers can inform curriculum and program development, bringing expertise and resources to strengthen outcomes.”

Another recommendation: Make two-year colleges and Latino achievement a focus of corporate philanthropy and corporate social responsibility efforts. Although two-year colleges serve more than 45 percent of undergraduates and more than 53 percent of Hispanics in colleges and universities, they receive less than 2 percent of corporate contributions to higher education.

Wraparound services

At two institutions that have had exemplary success in serving Latinos, wraparound services have been key. Miami Dade College (MDC) in Florida—where President Barack Obama last week delivered the commencement—focuses on providing support services to keep students in the classroom, from providing transportation to child care services.

“That’s what it takes,” said MDC President Eduardo Padrón.

The Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School in Washington, D.C., also focuses on support services, which in turn has helped the school attain 100 percent job placement through its workforce development program, said Sonia Gutierrez, the school’s founder.

Panelists also noted that parental involvement is critical to encourage students to pursue a postsecondary credential. For nearly a decade, Richard Rush, president of California State University, Channel Islands, has run initiatives to reach out to local migrant workers to educate them and their children about the importance of higher education. Through one initiative, the university partners with the Parent Institute for Quality Education on a nine-week program that helps parents navigate through the college bureaucracy, from registering for classes to applying for student financial aid.

“It’s a tragedy if we do not provide an opportunity for our youths,” Rush said.

Labor Secretary Hilda Solis said the department may hold similar roundtable discussions about Latinos and education in other parts of the country.