Original URL: http://www.statesmanjournal.com
Hispanic advocates to discuss federal education law
La Raza members will explain the No Child Left Behind Act in
Woodburn.
Statesman Journal
November 12,
2003
TARA
MCLAIN
One of the
most influential Hispanic advocacy groups in the nation will come to Woodburn on
Saturday to explain the intricacies of federal education law.
Members of the
National Council for La Raza
will explain parent opportunities and responsibilities under the
No Child Left Behind Act
and immigrant eligibility for education programs. Local officials will offer
information on bilingual education in the Woodburn and Salem-Keizer school
districts.
The workshop is hosted in part by the Salem/Keizer Coalition For Equality.
Chairman Eduardo Angulo hopes the seminar will help with the coalition’s
long-standing effort to get more parents involved with schools — and schools
more involved with parents.
“Parental involvement is the key to reversing the high dropout rate, lowering
disciplinary suspensions and raising academic standards across the board,”
Angulo said.
Raul González, legislative director for the National Council of La Raza, said
the organization is selective in where it spends time and money. Communities
with growing Hispanic populations, a lack of services and dedicated community
groups take priority.
“We have a sense that this organization, Salem/Keizer Coalition for Equality,
has a lot of potential to do a lot of good in the state of Oregon,” González
said. “When they asked us to come out, we have a lot of faith in this group, so
we jumped at the opportunity to come to Woodburn.”
La Raza — which means, “the people” — will bring with it knowledge of the
federal No Child Left Behind Act. Organizers want parents to leave with a better
understanding of their rights and responsibilities.
“We think schools are doing a good job,” of explaining the act, González said,
“but there needs to be a supplement to make sure parents know about all the
programs.”
Links
A presentation detailing parents’ rights and responsibilities, as outlined in
the
Federal No Child Left Behind Act,
will run from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Cipriano Ferrel Education
Center, 1274 Fifth St., Woodburn. It is sponsored by the
National Council for La Raza,
The Salem-Keizer Coalition for Equality, Parents With Voices, Voz Hispana Causa
Chavista, La Asociación de Padres de Nuevo Amanecer and the Salem-Keizer and
Woodburn school districts.
The event is free and will be translated into Spanish. Child care will be
provided for a maximum of 40 children; reservations are required. For more
information, call (503) 363-3909.
Tara McLain can be reached at
(503) 399-6705.