New Initiative Aims To Get More Latinos To Earn College Degrees

Despite progress, Texas Latinos continue to fall behind others in getting a college education. Between 2006 and 2008 the number of latinos who earned a degree in Texas grew by 7 percent, but that number is steadily declining.

It's a growing challenge among Latinos that many state leaders, along with the group Excelencia In Education, and its partners are hoping to change.

"One of those challenges is making sure the latino population is well educated and we have fallen behind over the last several years, said state Rep. Joaquin Castro.

Only 16 percent of Latino adults in Texas have an associate's degree or higher. The groups are coming together to discuss strategies for improving that number.

"The pathway is education and our job is to ensure that all who seek pursue an education are able to achieve it because we need them college educated citizens," said Sarita Brown, the president of Excelencia In Education.

Excelencia in Education and 60 national partners are taking the initiative to enact more programs that will allow high school students to take classes at universities and gain college credits.