Latinos with a bachelor's degree earn on average twice as much as dropouts. But sadly, fewer than 1 in 10 Latinos 25 years and older has graduated from a 4-year college. This should concern all of us because the face of America is changing. If we do not resolve the problem, we run the risk of creating a permanent, ever-growing underclass in the United States. In other words, the answer has as much to do with politics and economics as with education.
Language is a contributing factor, of course.
For immigrants and the children of immigrants, learning to speak and write English is generally considered the key to success. California's Proposition 227 has sparked extensive national debate over English language education. Passed in June of 1998, Proposition 227 ends 20 years of that state's mandated bilingual education programs. The new law requires that all limited English students be placed in English immersion programs for one year before starting regular classes. But this issue is not unique to California.