G ROWING PRESENCE, E MERGING VOICES

1. GROWING PRESENCE, EMERGING VOICES Pacific Islanders and Academic Achievement In Washington Prepared by David T. Takeuchi, Ph.D. Shirley Hune, Ph. D. University of Washington Seattle Presented to WA State Board of Education January 15, 2009

2. Pacific Islanders in WA • Pacific Islanders comprised 0.4% (27,654) of the State’s population in 2007 • Washington is the 3rd largest in number and the 5th largest in percentage of Pacific Islanders across the nation in 2007 • More than two thirds (69%) of Pacific Islanders live in King (37%), Pierce (24%), and Snohomish (8%) counties in 2003. • Samoans are the largest PI group in Washington(31%), followed by Guamanians (23%), Native Hawaiians (13%), and Fijians (4%). Presented to WA State Board of Education January 15, 2009

3. Pacific Islanders Economic Profile Source: U.S. Census Bureau. Tables DP-3. Profiles of Selected Economic Characteristics: 2000. Data set: Census 2000 Summary File 4 (SF 4) Sample data (1-in-6 households).

4. Figure 5. Percentages of Individuals Below Poverty Level by PI ethnic groups in the U.S. and Washington State, 2000 25% 20% 20% 20% 20% 18% 16% 16% 15% 14% 14% 15% 12% US 11% 11% 10% WA 10% 5% 5% 0% Total PI Native Samoan Tongan Guamanian Fijian Hawaiian Percentages of Individuals Below Poverty Level by PI Ethnic Groups in the United States and Washington State, 2000 Source: U.S. Census Bureau. Tables DP-3. Profiles of Selected Economic Characteristics: 2000. Data set: Census 2000 Summary File 4 (SF 4) Sample data (1-in-6 households). Presented to WA State Board of Education January 15, 2009

5. Figure II-E. Percentages of Bachelor’s Degree or Higher by PI Ethnic Groups in the United States and Washington State, 2000 Source: U.S. Census Bureau. Table DP-2. Profile of Selected Social Characteristics: 2000. Data Set: Census 2000 Summary File 4 (SF 4) Sample data (1-in-6 households). Presented to WA State Board of Education January 15, 2009

6. Pacific Islander Student Characteristics • PIs are 0.6% of all students in Washington public schools (2007), with a larger number in the younger grades (Grade K2-2). • 75% are enrolled in 16 school districts around Puget Sounds and the Clark County area, largely concentrated in the Kent and Federal Way school districts, followed by Tacoma, Franklin Pierce, and Central Kitsap. • Majority of PIs speak English (75%). • Samoan is the largest non-English language group. Presented to WA State Board of Education January 15, 2009

7. Figure III-A. Samoan Demographic Profile in Seattle Public Schools, 2007-2008 77% Samoan (N = 298) All (N = 45,276) 44% 37% 39% 19% 13% 14% 13% Not living with Free/Reduced Limited English Special Education Both Parents Price Lunch Proficiency Program Source: 2007/08 District Report, Seattle Public Schools. Presented to WA State Board of Education January 15, 2009

8. Figure III-B. Samoan Educational Status by Attendance, Suspension, and Dropout, Seattle Public Schools, 2007-2008 Samoan (N=298) All (N=45,276) 84% Daily Attendance 91% 11% Short-Term Suspension* *A suspension is a removal from a single subject, class period or full schedule of classes for a definite period of time. WAC 180-40-205(2). Short-term suspension shall mean a suspension for any portion of a calendar day up to and not exceeding ten consecutive school days. Long-term suspension shall mean a suspension which exceeds a short-term suspension. 6% 2% Long-Term Suspension 1% 10% Dropout 4% Source: 2007/08 District Report, Seattle Public Schools. Presented to WA State Board of Education January 15, 2009

9. Figure III-C. WASL 10th-Grade Performance by Race and Ethnicity, 2007-2008 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% Asian Percent Meeting Standard 50% State 40% PI 30% Samoan 20% 10% 0% Reading Writing Math Science Note: Samoans in this table only refers to those who enrolled in Seattle Public Schools. Source: OSPI WASL Data and Seattle District Report, 2007/08. Presented to WA State Board of Education January 15, 2009

10. Figure IV-A. Comparison of Plans to Attend College With Accomplishment of Attending College Figure IV-A. Comparison of Plans to Attend College With Accomplishment of Attending College 82.5% 80.6% 90% 76.9% 70.9% 80% 68.4% 68.3% 65.4% 63.2% 70% 53.8% 60% 44.3% 50% With College Plans 40% Attended Any College 30% 20% 10% 0% Native Samoan Guamanian Other PI Non-PI Hawaiian Source: Beyond High School project data.

11. Parental Educational Involvement Pacific Islander parents report: • High aspirations for their children to achieve a college degree (92%). • But substantially lower expectations for their children to receive a college degree (78%). Pacific Islander students report: • About half report their parents seldom help with homework, except Samoans. • Samoan parents are more engaged than any other PI groups in their children’s school activities, such as homework and school nights. Presented to WA State Board of Education January 15, 2009

12. Recommendations • Develop and implement a strategic plan that fosters the cultural responsiveness of the school system. • Initiate more extensive partnerships with Pacific Islander community groups. • Ensure Pacific Islanders are included in all academic and co-curricular programs, from early education (such as Thrive by Five) through K–16. • Develop and implement a research and evaluation plan that assesses achievement gap reduction over time. Presented to WA State Board of Education January 15, 2009