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Partners in Hispanic Education Host
Educational Fair in Miami

Secretary Paige to discuss impact of No Child Left Behind
for Hispanic American students

WASHINGTON, DC - On December 5-6, 2003, the Partners in Hispanic Education, consisting of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans, the U.S. Department of Education and some of the nation's leading Hispanic organizations, corporate leaders, and national private entities, will convene to host the second of seven nationwide education outreach events for Hispanic American families.

The two-day "Feria Educativa" kicks off at 10 AM on Friday, December 5 in the Lehman Theatre located on the North Campus of Miami Dade College in Miami, FL. The program will consist of presentations, plenary sessions, and panel discussions aimed at closing the academic achievement gap and improving college access for Hispanic Americans, our nation's largest minority group.

U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige will address the conference on Saturday morning at 10 AM ET. The Secretary will highlight the options and opportunities afforded to parents and families under the No Child Left Behind Act, such as the right to receive information regarding their child's performance on academic tests, the right to know if their child has been identified and recommended for placement in an English language acquisition program, and the right to a quality education and a quality teacher for their child.

"Too often, Hispanic students are being left behind, their needs ignored, and their future diminished," said Secretary Paige. "When President Bush took office, he stated that this achievement gap is unacceptable and he took action by proposing the No Child Left Behind Act. The new law provides unprecedented options and help for parents if their child is struggling in school, as well as new levels of flexibility and local control. The Department of Education is committed to helping all Hispanic American children to grow and reach their full potential."

The event's agenda, organized by the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships (NCCEP) and the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation (USHCC Foundation), will feature several local resources available from local schools, institutions, community-based organizations and businesses that serve the Miami community, along with programs from national organizations and the U.S. Department of Education. In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a college recruitment fair and BizFest, a series of intensive training sessions for aspiring entrepreneurs hosted by the USHCC Foundation.

"As a community of educators and Hispanic leaders we must work with students, schools, parents, community organizations, colleges, universities, government agencies, foundations and corporations to help them understand what works in educating Latino youth," stated Hector Garza, President, National Council for Community and Education Partnerships (NCCEP). The USHCC Foundation and NCCEP serve as national lead partners for the Miami event.

Partnership participants have committed to hosting a total of seven programs over the next several months. Each will involve a series of events including town hall meetings; educational workshops for parents, students, educators and business and community leaders; and a seminar on student financial aid and scholarships. Additional future pilot cities include El Paso, TX/Las Cruces, NM; Tucson, AZ; Detroit, MI; The Bronx, NY, and Albuquerque, NM.

The Partners in Hispanic Education members include the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans; United States Department of Education; National Council for Community and Education Partnerships (NCCEP); United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation (USHCC Foundation); MANA, A National Latina Organization; Girl Scouts of the USA; Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU); State Farm; United States Army, and the National Association of Hispanic Publications (NAHP).

Media interested in attending should contact Beverly C. Rodrigues, 305-237-3949, 305-298-1123 cell, at Miami Dade College, or on the day of event, David Almacy, 202-549-7094 cell. For general event information, please contact Miami Dade College, 305-237-1505.

To learn more about No Child Left Behind, visit the U.S. Department of Education web site at www.ed.gov/nclb and the Web site for the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans located at www.yesican.gov.

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Program for Miami, FL - Dec. 5 & 6, 2003

San Diego, CA - Nov. 21 & 22, 2003

Overview: Partners in Hispanic Education