Trends Challenging Educational Success for Merced’s Multi-Ethnic Communities

1. Trends Challenging Educational Success for Merced’s Multi-Ethnic Communities Presented to the Merced County Hispanic Networkby Stergios Roussos, PhD, MPH Community Partnership Alliance of Merced January 29, 2005 www.CommunityPartnershipAlliance.org

2. “We do not own the world, we borrow it from our children.” Red Ribbon Rally, Livingston

3. Community Partnership Alliance • A Voice and Vehicle for Action • Collaborative • Multi-Ethnic • Community Led Education Employment Health Housing CPA Business Development

4. Successful Families Ethnic & Cultural Diversity Accessible Health & Social Services Common Goals Strong Economy Successful Students UC MercedSuccess Merced Success Quality Childcare Health & Wellness Successful Businesses Successful Schools Productive & Growing Workforce Affordable & Livable Housing Safe Neighborhoods

5. Merced County: A Demographic Analysis of its Ethnic Communities M. Chavoya, 2004 Greenlining Institute & Community Partnership Alliance www.CommunityPartnershipAlliance.org

6. Examine ethnic communities’ trends in: • Population growth Purpose of the Report • Employment • Education • Housing • Civic participation How prepared are ethnic communities for the opportunities ahead?

7. Changing Faceof Merced

8. Projected Population Growth 2000-2040Merced County v. California Source: State of California Department of Finance, County Population with Age, Sex and Race/Ethnic Detail. December 1998

9. Some Key Population Characteristics • Over 45% Latino -- the largest racial/ethnic group • Latino children are the largest ethnic group in K-12 schools (40% and higher) • 74% increase projected in ages 0 to 4 years between 2000 and 2020 Source: Census 2000 & California Department of Education

10. Population Growth: Some Key Questions • What resources are needed to provide for this growing population? • How do we best care for a large and growing population of youth? • What cultural factors should we attend to given our large and growing Latino culture?

11. 56% Latino 17% Latino Education: 2001 – 2002 School Year, K-12 Students Teachers Source: California Department of Education, Merced County Student Enrollment ’01-’02

12. ’01-’02 High School Dropout Rate Merced Latinos:1.7% Source: California Department of Education, DataQuest. Merced County Number of High School Dropouts (’01-‘02)

13. Merced Latinos:15% ’01-’02 Grade 12 Graduates with UC/CSU Eligibility Source: California Department of Education, Merced County ’01-’02 Grade 12 Graduates with UC/CSU Eligibility

14. Merced Latinos:20.4% HS3.8% AA2.5% BS/BA Merced County’s Educational Attainment Level for Population 25 Years & Older Source: American Fact Finder, Census 2000

15. Educational Trends: Some Key Findings • ’01-’02 School Year in Merced County: ~ 40% of children age 5-17 speak Spanish> 1,600 children entering kindergarten were learning English for the first time 81% were Spanish speakers • Latinos = - largest & growing youth population- 2nd highest high school dropout rate- 2nd lowest CSU/UC eligibility- lowest Associate’s and Bachelor’s

16. Education: Some Key Questions • How can we improve academic progress for the large and growing Latino youth community? • How can the broader community help schools better attend to potential language and cultural factors given our dominant Latino culture? • What school conditions can facilitate better success for all ethnic/racial groups?

17. Community Environment Home Environment • Education • Employment • Housing • Population Growth • Civic Participation Key Influences on Academic Success

18. Unemployment Rates: Merced County v. California Source: "County Snapshots", Labor Market Information Division (LMID), California Employment Development Department (EDD), 2003

19. Latino 18.6% Unemployment Rates by Ethnicity for Ages 16-64 Source: American Fact Finder, U.S. Census 2000

20. Key Economic Trends for Latinos • 18.6% unemployment rate82.3% higher than overall California rate • 5.3% employed in professional, scientific & administrative jobs43% less than overall California rate Source: State of California Department of Finance, County Population with Age, Sex and Race/Ethnic Detail. December 1998

21. Occupied Housing Units by Owner, Renter and Ethnicity Source: Census 2000. American Fact Finder. Summary File 4. Retrieved February 2004.

22. Median Gross Rent and Owner Costs as a Percentage of Household Income in 1999 Source: Census 2000. American Fact Finder. Summary File 4.

23. Merced County Voting Population Age 18 and Over Eligible Registered Source: Census 2000. American Fact Finder. Summary File 4.

24. “Gains in minority admissions at UC are not closing this gap, because the diversity of the California high school population continues to grow. “ Richard C. Atkinson, “Diversity: Not There Yet ” - April 20, 2003; © 2003 The Washington Post Company UC Eligibility Gap May Be Widening Percent Minority Students in California 1995 38% High School Graduates 21% UC Freshmen Gap = 17 percentage points 2002 42% High School Graduates 18% UC Freshmen Gap = 24 percentage points

25. What would our community look if …. What programs, practices, and policies would exist if … ¿ Action Questions ? • All of our youth are prepared for a UC education? • Cultural and linguistic barriers in education and employment are eliminated? • Our labor force is prepared to meet the needs of a UC workforce? • Our businesses help to prepare and support better educational outcomes for all ethnicities?

26. "A community is like a ship; everyone ought to be prepared to take the helm." - Henrik Ibsen www.CommunityPartnershipAlliance.org