The President's Hispanic education initiative will offer Latino students a better chance to develop their full academic potential so they can contribute the full force of their talent to the success of America in the Twenty-First Century. In his State of the Union address, President Clinton reinforced his commitment to excellence in education for all Americans. America cannot prosper as a nation unless educational opportunity is made available to all of our children.
Hispanic students are among the nation's most educationally disadvantaged.
Students, including those with limited English skills, must be held to challenging academic standards, with a firm foundation in reading and math. Thirty-two percent of those served are Latino. The Hispanic Education Action Plan is the result of months of consultation with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, education and Latino organizations, and the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans. It is a response both to the final report of the Hispanic Dropout Project, No More Excuses, and to the earlier recommendations of the President's Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans, Our Nation on the Fault Line. As a result of these and other efforts, the Administration has not only invested in programs that address the education needs of Hispanic Americans, but has also taking a number of other actions to improve Federal programs.