In Cooperation with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

Federal programs play a critical role in supporting the development and well-being of children. This briefing highlighted the power of programs such as TANF, SNAP, and Medicaid to better the lives of children. The speakers focused on how Hispanic families currently utilize these supports and how implementation policies and outreach efforts can help improve uptake to ensure all children have access to the programs they qualify for. This conversation comes at a critical time, as budget negotiations regarding the future of these programs continue.

Watch

The post How Safety Net Program Design Can Improve Outcomes for Hispanic Children appeared first on First Focus on Children.

Fostering a sense of identity and belonging through ethnic studies coursework dramatically impacts success for all students, the study suggests, and especially for immigrant youth and children of color.

Coursework that centers students’ varied ethnic identities improves grade point averages, high school graduation rates, attendance and other markers of academic success for all students, University of California Irvine’s Dr. Emily Penner told experts and congressional staff during a Capitol Hill briefing hosted this week by First Focus on Children, and particularly for marginalized groups.

“Making space and rearranging resources takes effort but it also communicates something important to students about how they’re valued,” Dr. Penner said.

Evidence suggests that ethnic studies coursework positively impacts learning in English, the sciences and social studies, Dr. Penner said, and has an outsized impact on math scores. The curriculum also benefits all students across gender, racial and ethnic groups, she added, as well as in special education, among English language learners and across other sectors.

The research comes as initiatives in Congress and state legislatures target inclusion efforts and promote censorship and the whitewashing of history. The Alliance for Student Liberty, created by First Focus on Children, is fighting these efforts to dissolve facts and destabilize public education.

In other research, minority students, including Hispanic youth and youth born outside of the U.S., reported a lower sense of community belonging than their white peers, New York University’s Dr. Sophia Rodriguez reported to attendees. Her work also found that Hispanic students, Spanish speakers and those born outside the U.S. are less likely to report having trust in adults at school.

To improve these conditions in U.S. schools, Dr. Rodriguez recommends embedding Hispanic history and culture in school curriculum, centering youth voices on school boards, diversifying hiring to reflect demographics in school climate and curriculum, and other steps to cultivate an environment of acceptance.

For more information or to contact Drs. Penner and Rodriguez, gimme a shout at MicheleK@FirstFocus.org.

The post What’s the special sauce for student success? appeared first on First Focus on Children.

Fostering a sense of identity and belonging through ethnic studies coursework dramatically impacts student success, according to new research released today, especially for immigrant youth and children of color.

Coursework that centers students’ varied ethnic identities improves grade point averages, high school graduation rates, attendance and other markers of academic success for all students, University of California Irvine’s Dr. Emily Penner told experts and congressional staff during a Capitol Hill briefing hosted today by First Focus on Children, and particularly for marginalized groups.

“Making space and rearranging resources takes effort but it also communicates something important to students about how they’re valued,” Dr. Penner said.

Evidence suggests that ethnic studies coursework positively impacts learning in English, the sciences and social studies, Dr. Penner said, and has an outsized impact on math scores. The curriculum also benefits all students across gender, racial and ethnic groups, she added, as well as in special education, English language learners and other sectors.

“At a time of extreme misrepresentation of inclusion initiatives, it is essential to understand the evidence that supports these practices,” said First Focus on Children President Bruce Lesley. “First Focus on Children is tracking the initiatives in Congress that target these efforts and promote censorship, the whitewashing of history, and the erasure of facts.”

First Focus on Children has created the Alliance for Student Liberty to combat efforts to silence diverse voices and destabilize public education.

In other research, minority students, including Hispanic youth and youth born outside of the U.S., reported a lower sense of community belonging than their white peers, New York University’s Dr. Sophia Rodriguez told the gathering. Her work also found that Hispanic students, Spanish speakers and those born outside the U.S. are less likely to report having trust in adults at school.

To improve these conditions in U.S. schools, Dr. Rodriguez recommends embedding Hispanic history and culture in school curriculum, centering youth voices on school boards, diversifying hiring to reflect demographics in school climate and curriculum, and other steps to cultivate an environment of acceptance.

The post Student success soars after ethnic studies, new research finds appeared first on First Focus on Children.

Together, these findings underscore the importance of ethnic studies coursework, school-student partnerships, and inclusive environments in fostering student success.

Resources from the event

• Event Coverage: What Works to Help Students of Color Feel Like They Belong at School
• Slide Deck: “Nobody is listening to us”: Latinx immigrant youth perspectives on race, discrimination, belonging and racial equity in schools
• Slide Deck: Sustaining Ethnic Studies as it Grows
• Article: Latino youth struggle with sense of belonging in school
• Report: Struggling to Belong: Evidence From a Survey of Youth Belonging in Public Schools
• Report: Toward Race-Conscious Care-Based Healing to Support Latino Immigrant Youth
• Blog: “Nobody is listening to us”: Latinx immigrant youth perspectives on race, discrimination, and racial

The post The Power of Belonging: New Research Finds Inclusive School Cultures Promote Student Success appeared first on First Focus on Children.