Published By Merced Sun Star Published On April 18, 2022 A new bill introduced in Congress this week would grant $150 million to school districts and colleges, many of which are in the central San Joaquin Valley, to help Latino students go to college. The HERE Act, introduced by Sen. Alex Padilla and U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, would address the gap in college attendance and completion rates for Latino students, which lag behind the white population. About 20% of Latino adults 25 years and older in California have an associate degree or higher, compared to 54% of white adults, according to Excelencia in Education, which uses information from the U.S. Census Bureau. For the first time in 20 years, due to decreasing enrollment, the U.S. lost 10 of its Hispanic-serving institutions or colleges where 25% or more of students are Hispanic or Latino. Fresno State, Fresno City College, and all other community colleges in the Valley are designated as Hispanic-Serving Institutions. Publication URL Read More
