Recruitment & Retention of Hispanic Students

Value in Education vs. Number of College GraduatesMary Alice NadaskayCynthia NiedbalaSherry Steines

Recruitment & Retention of Hispanic Students • Understanding Culture - Customs & Beliefs • History & Value of Education – Discrepancies, both positive & negative, in Educational Expectations within Catholic Schools • Implications & Possible Accommodations for Catholic Schools, their Educators & the Community at Large

South America Mexico Central America Various Caribbean Islands Hispanic Cultures from Countries of

Verbal & Nonverbal Communication • Speaking loudly is acceptable • Less personal space needed during conversations • Handshakes are common method of formal greeting and hugs and kisses are common with family and friends • Staring is acceptable to show interest • Children do not make eye contact with adults to show respect • Seek emotional connection1

Religious Beliefs • Our Lady of Guadalupe: Patroness of the Americas – Symbol of Hispanic Catholicism1 • Three Kings’ Day • Semana Santa or Holy Week

Cultural Implications for Education • Family is most important and includes extended members • Honor, respect, and good manners are highly valued • Preserving Spanish Language

Etiquette • Prefer face-to-face meetings • Interrupting conversation is normal • Best to dress up as one is judged by appearance • Invited to house: arrive 30 min. late for dinner • Invited to party: arrive up to an hour late

Hispanics Value Education Ipsos-Telemundo Telephone Survey in New York City¹ • 89% Education is necessary for immigrants to improve their living standards • 78% US provides better educational opportunity for their children • 79% Education in the US is better than in the parents’ country of origin • 78% Children will have more opportunities to attend college • 81% Children to earn at least a four year college degree • 48% Children would earn an advanced degree (i.e. Masters degree) • 17% Children would attain a doctorate degree

Family Values ▪ Family comes first, before friends¹ ▪ Strong commitment, obligation to family ▪ Involvement in literacy practices and child-care varies² ▪ Strong belief in Catholic education ▪ Historically benefit from Catholic School Advantage ³

Catholic School Advantage ▪ Latino students who graduate from Catholic schools¹: ◊ perform better than their peers in public school ◊ 42 % more likely to graduate from high school ◊ 2-2 1/2 more times likely to graduate from college ◊ display more patience and tolerance to diverse views ◊ are more likely to vote in general and national elections ◊ participate in community civic-minded activities ◊ earn higher wages than public school peers catholic school advantage video ²

Disparities within the Catholic SchoolWhat keeps the growing population of Hispanic youth who has attended Catholic School from completing college? Language Culture Finances

Language • Language • Lack of bilingual and English-as-Second Language programs¹ • English only vs. two-way immersion programs²

Language • Hispanic school personnel underrepresented¹ • Limit number of role models/mentors • Enhance perception of “unwelcomeness” • Language barriers between home and school

Cultural Impact on College Attendance and Graduation • Latin American clientele vs. US clientele¹ • Limited teacher professional development programs²

Finances • Finances • Value jobs and saving money for the future¹ • Immigrants work hourly-wage jobs; usually two jobs to meet obligations² • Cost of tuition often prohibitive, both in reality and in perception, despite efforts to provide tuition assistance, but not sole problem³

Barriers to Attending College • Financial¹ • High cost of college tuition • Need to work full-time to provide for self/family • Lack of access to financial aid/student loans

Barriers to Attending College • Non-financial¹ • Immigration status • Lack of support from family/peers • Lack of knowledge on application process • Lack of motivation • Limited English proficiency • Lack of basic education

Reasons to Improve Post-Secondary Opportunities for Hispanics • To raise level of participation in work force • To improve Hispanic purchasing power • To increase the number of Hispanics in corporate positions • To create self-sufficiency within culture • To help create a well-educated and prosperous nation¹

How Do Catholic Schools Embrace And Meet The Cultural Needs Of The Latino Population? • Host School Functions That Reach Out To Latino Families • Address Financial Concerns • Create Culturally Responsive School Environments • Prepare Leaders For 21st Century Learning Environments • Involvement In Leadership Roles • Church /Parish Involvement

Latino Family Outreach • La FamiliaExtendida: Bringing Families to Catholic Schools http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u19FLai6H-M La FamiliaExtendida is a pilot program that seeks to encourage greater academic success among Hispanic students by reaching out to entire families with training in the English language and help in navigating the transition to American life.

Host School Functions That Reach Out To Latino Families • ESLInstruction for Parents • Make Latino Families Feel Welcome • Market School Targeting Latino Families

Financial Concerns • Make Schools More Affordable • Voucher Initiatives • Scholarships • Work Study Programs

Culturally Responsive Schools • Spanish Curriculum Materials • Spanish Speaking Personnel i.e. Secretary • Spanish Library/Media Materials • Marketing Materials in Spanish • School Sign in Spanish • Tutors and/or ESL Teacher

Preparing Leaders for 21st Century Schools • Leadership courses that focus on intercultural communication

Involvement in Leadership Roles • Involve more Latinos in leadership roles Teachers Principals School Board Members

Church/Parish Involvement • Offer Mass in Spanish • Announcements from Altar in Spanish • Bulletin Announcements in Spanish • Involve more Latinos as Eucharistic Ministers. Deacons • Parish Support • Pastor Support

Summary • Take time to understand the values, culture, and attitudes of the Hispanic people • Integrate these attributes into the Catholic school environment so recruitment and enrollment of Hispanic students will increase. • Be aware of the need for adult mentors, Spanish-speaking teachers, bilingual materials, and consistent role models in order to enhance the number of Hispanic high school graduates and college students. • Make concerted efforts to integrate the church/parish life with the Catholic school to strengthen the bond between home and school, leading to a higher number of high school and college graduates. • Attend to the financial concerns of families and seek avenues to secure funding sources for those wanting to educate children in Catholic schools

References Berls, J. (1996). Austin study helps curb hispancic dropouts. Austin, TX: Austin American-Statesman, p. B14. Retrieved January 16, 2011 from http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives. Clutter, A. & Nieto, D.(2011). Ohio State University Fact sheet. Family and Consumer Sciences. 1787 Neil Ave, Columbus, Understanding the Hispanic Culture. HYG-5237-00. Retrieved January 23, 2011 from http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/5000/5237.html Franco, J. (2010). Nine in ten hispanics see a good education as necessary for immigrants to improve their standard of living. New York, NY: Ipsos Public Affairs. Retrieved January 15, 2011 from http://www.ipsos-na.com/news-polls/pressrelease.aspx?id=4955. Ganderton, P.T., Santos, R. (1995). Hispanic college attendance and completion: evidence from the high school and beyond surveys. Economics of Education, 14 (1), 35-46. Retrieved January 16, 2011 from http://gandini.unm.edu/research/Papers/eer95.pdf Hollis, L. K. (2009). Catholic Schools and Student Academic Performance: Does the Urban Catholic School Experience Mitigate Ethnoracial Disparity? Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH. Retrieved January 16, 2011 from http://etd.ohiolink.edu/send-pdf.cgi. Lopez, Richardo (2009). Latinos Communicate at a Spiritual Level. New York, New York: Ohio State University. Retrieved January 21, 2011 from http://www.greenbook.org/marketing-research.cfm/latinos-communiate-at-a-spiritual-level Marcela (2007). Why Do We Celebrate Easter or Semana Santa Amongst Hispanics? Hispanic Culture Online. Retrieved January 24, 2011 from http://www.hispanic-culture-online.com/semana-santa.html Notre Dame.edu, . (Producer). (2009). La familiaextendida: bringing families to catholic schools . [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u19FLai6H-M Office of Hispanic/Latino Ministry Diocese of Kalamazoo Michigan, . (2006, December 12). Diocesan pastoral plan for hispanic/latino ministry. Retrieved January 21, 2011 from http://www.dioceseofkalamazoo.org/hispanic/pastoral.pdf Pelayo, C. (2010). Hispanics strive for a better future while staying connected to their culture. Chicago, IL: IpsosOmnibus Services. Retrieved January 15,2011 from http://www.ipsos-na.com/news-polls/pressrelease.aspx?id=4283.

President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans. (1996). Our nation on the fault line: hispanicamerican education. Washington, DC: US Department of Education. Retrieved January 15, 2011 from http://www2/ed.gov/pubs/FaultLine/index.html Roca, A. (1992). Spanish for U.S. hispanic bilinguals in higher education. Retrieved January 15, 2011 from http://www.ericdigest.org/1992-1/spanish.htm. Scanlon, M., Palmer, D. (2009). Race, power, and (in)equity within two-way immersion settings. Urban Review, 41 (5), 1-32. Retrieved January 15, 2011 from http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s/1256-0080111-0 US Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences. (2005). The nation’s report card—student achievement in private schools— report from NAEP 2000-2005. Washington, DC: US Department of Education. Retrieved January 16, 2011 from http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pdf/studies/2006459.pdf University of Notre Dame. (2009). To nuture the soul of a nation: Latino families, catholic schools, and educational opportunity. Notre Dame, IN: Alliance for Catholic Education Press. University of Notre Dame, . (2009). To nurture the soul of a nation: latino families, catholic schools, and educational opportunities. Retrieved January 21, 2011 from http://www.catholicschooladvantage.nd.edu/latino-task-force-report/ Woolley, M. E. (2009). Supporting school completion among latino youth: The role of adult relationships. The Prevention Researcher, 16 (3), 9-12.

Recruitment & Retention of Hispanic Students