The Fourth Annual Closing the Latino Achievement Gap Summit
Friday, September 14, 2012 at Chapman University
En Colaboracción:
A Call for United Action
A day of inspiration, collaboration, and action.
What would it take to close the Latino achievement gap?
That's the question that a powerful, passionate group of teachers, administrators, authors, politicians and entrepreneurs and students asked at an invigorating all-day summit at Chapman University on Friday, September 14, aptly called the Closing the Latino Achievement Gap Summit, or CLAGS. This was the 4th annual CLAGS Summits, which was started at Cal State University, Fullerton. We invite you to read more about the CLAGS Summit and see videos of the keynote speakers.
The Problem Facing Us All
Closing the Latino achievement gap requires a community of invested and informed stakeholders, yet few venues exist for open local discussions as to how we can act together to nurture the ambitions and aspirations of our Latino students, regardless of fiscal challenges.
Our Purpose
The purpose of this summit was to provide an opportunity to discuss the many ways in which Orange County schools, leaders, teachers, parents, and community partners can act together to close the achievement and opportunity gap for Latino students. It was a successful "call for united action" to create possibilities for Latinos to learn and thrive within our schools.
Our Commitment
Understanding those factors that create the achievement gap among Latinos and propose actions among stakeholders to address that gap.
1. Build on previous summits to provide continuity in our community efforts.
2. Promote successful practices and programs that address the achievement gap.
3. Highlight the potential for partnerships within the community to support achievement among Latino students.
4. Promote inter-level and inter-agency communications and collaboration in closing the achievement gap.
5. Provide a forum for discussions regarding united actions
6. Move beyond the core and standardized testing to promote 21st century skills and learning.
7. Provide resolutions for partnerships and action among community members.
Edward James Olmos
Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez
Professor Emerita at the University of San Francisco
Gustavo Arellano’s ¡Ask a Mexican! column has a circulation of more than two million in thirty-eight markets (and counting). He has received the President’s Award from the Los Angeles Press Club, an Impact Award from the National Hispanic Media Coalition and a 2008 Latino Spirit Award from the California State legislature. Arellano has appeared on the Today show, Nightline, NPR’s Talk of the Nation and The Colbert Report. He is currently the editor of Orange Weekly and has authored two books, Orange County: A Personal History, and Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America.
Dr. Mildred García was appointed as the seventh president of California State University, Fullerton in June 2012. Previously, García served as president of CSU Dominguez Hills beginning in 2007, where she was the eleventh female president—and first Latina president—in the California State University system. García’s research in higher education has concentrated on the impacts equity, diversity and outreach have on policy and practice. García currently serves on President Obama’s Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics, on the boards of directors for the Association of American Colleges and Universities and the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education; on the advisory boards of Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education and Higher Education Abstracts.