Plan will strengthen schools so that every child can live the American Dream

Miami, Florida – Senator John Edwards introduced a new set of proposals today to make sure our nation's schools serve Latino students and give every child the opportunity to live the American Dream.

"The road to building One America starts with our schools," said Edwards. "But more than fifty years after Brown v. Board of Education, America still has two school systems, separate and unequal. And when our schools leave behind Latino students, so does our economy."

Forty-seven percent of Latino students don't receive a high school diploma. By the senior year in high school, the average Latino student has math and English skills similar to those of an average white middle school student. The inequality starts early on, as too few Latino students have the opportunity to go to preschool programs. And it continues after high school graduation: neither the college enrollment nor completion rates of Latinos have increased over the last 20 years.

Edwards' proposals will strengthen our schools from preschool through college so that every child develops the skills and knowledge he or she needs to succeed in college and the workplace. To do this, Edwards will expand access to preschool, invest in teachers for English language classes, end the dropout crisis and initiate a College for Everyone program.

These proposals build on the rest of Edwards' agenda to include all Latinos in the American Dream by providing universal health care, ending poverty, expanding the middle class and implementing comprehensive immigration reform.

"I believe that everyone in America – regardless of the family you were born into, the color of your skin or the country your family came from – should have an equal chance to build a better life," said Edwards.

Edwards has also won the support of a key figure within the Latino community. "Senator Edwards best represents the interests of working families and middle America," said Frank Herrera Jr., the former chair of MALDEF, the nation's largest civil rights group on behalf of Latinos. "He understands the issues because he has lived the issues. I know that Senator Edwards will respond to the needs of our community, which have historically been undeserved in the areas of economics, education and health care."

A detailed fact sheet outlining Edwards' opportunity agenda for Latino Americans is below.

Building One America: Edwards' Opportunity Agenda for Latino Americans

"I believe that everyone in America – regardless of the family you were born into, the color of your skin or the country your family came from – should have an equal chance to build a better life." – John Edwards

There are still Two Americas. For the last 20 years, 40 percent of America's economic growth has gone to the top 1 percent. While they are not defined by family heritage, the Two Americas have a disproportionate impact on Latinos. For example, their median per capita income is only about half of that for non-Latino whites. [EPI, 2006; Census Bureau, 2007]

The road to building One America starts with our schools. But more than fifty years after Brown v. Board of Education, America still has two school systems, separate and unequal. Forty-seven percent of Latino students don't receive a high school diploma. By the senior year in high school, the average Latino student has math and English skills similar to those of an average white middle school student. The inequality starts early on, as too few Latino students have the opportunity to go to preschool programs. And it continues after high school graduation: neither the college enrollment nor completion rates of Latinos have increased over the last 20 years. When our schools leave behind Latino students, so does our economy. [NAEP, 2005; Ed Trust, 2007]

Edwards' Agenda For Latino Education

Today, Edwards announced his plan to make sure our nation's schools serve Latino students, so that every child can live the American Dream. As president, Edwards will strengthen our schools from preschool through college so that every child develops the skills and knowledge he or she needs to succeed in college and the workplace.

Expand Access to Preschools: Building one American education system begins by expanding access to preschools. Just 43 percent of Latino children participate in preschool programs in America, compared to 59 percent of white children. Among Latino children ages three to five who are living in poverty, just 36 percent are enrolled in early childhood care and education programs. Edwards will expand funding for Head Start and increase preschool enrollment so that more students – including Latino students – start school ready to learn. He will also improve the quality and diversity of our preschool teachers by providing scholarships for early childhood educators to obtain college credit and additional training in English language instruction. [NCES, 2006]

Invest in Teachers for English Language Learners: Nearly half of all Latino public school students are English Language Learners (ELLs), but just 29 percent of eighth-grade ELLs meet basic achievement levels in reading compared to 75 percent of non-ELLs. Edwards will provide additional compensation and scholarships to teachers specializing in ELL education where there are shortages and those working in high-poverty schools serving large populations of Latino students. And he will invest in developing smarter tests, including native-language and simplified English tests for ELLs. Edwards will also boost funding for migrant education programs. [NAEP, 2005]

End the Dropout Crisis: At nearly 2,000 high schools nationwide – called "dropout factories" – more than 40 percent of students won't graduate. Many of these schools have large populations of Latino students. High school dropouts earn nearly 50 percent less than workers with a diploma or G.E.D., and are only three-quarters as likely to be employed as high school graduates. Edwards will create second chance schools and other paths to graduation to help former dropouts return to school and earn their diploma with flexible class times and locations and connections to youth development services. Edwards will also make sure schools identify likely dropout candidates early on and provide students at risk with alternatives such as academically rigorous smaller schools and classes, flexible and accelerated schedules, academic and support services, career academies and engaging coursework.

College for Everyone: College graduates can expect to earn $1 million more over their lifetimes than high school graduates, and their children are almost twice as likely to attend college. An estimated 200,000 college-qualified graduates fail to go to college each year. About half of Latino young people enroll in college, but few finish, and the white-Latino gap in higher education enrollment increased from 16 percent in 1974 to 26 percent in 2003. As president, Edwards will pass a College for Everyone program – based on the successful model he helped start in North Carolina – to pay for one year of public-college tuition, fees and books for more than 2 million students. In return, students will be required to work part-time, take a college-prep curriculum in high school and stay out of trouble. Edwards will also simplify student aid applications and provide additional college counselors for schools serving low-income students. [NCES, 2005]

Edwards' Opportunity Agenda for Latino Americans

Today's proposals build on the rest of Edwards' agenda to include all Latinos in the American Dream by providing universal health care, ending poverty, expanding the middle class and implementing comprehensive immigration reform. To make sure everyone has the same chances that America has given to him, as president, Edwards supports:

Universal Health Care: Forty-seven million Americans don't have health care and families and businesses are struggling to pay skyrocketing premiums. One out of every three Latinos lack health insurance, twice as many as other Americans. Edwards is the only major candidate who has proposed a specific plan for truly universal health care that will take on the insurance and drug companies, cover every man, woman and child in America and provide better care at a lower cost. [Census Bureau, 2007]

Ending Poverty and Expanding the Middle Class: Every day, nearly 37 million Americans – including more than one out five Latinos – wake up in poverty. Edwards has outlined an ambitious agenda to eliminate poverty within a generation by creating and rewarding work, strengthening families, helping workers save and get ahead, encouraging economically integrated neighborhoods, cracking down on predatory lending, reaching overlooked rural areas and expecting people to help themselves by working whenever they are able. Edwards will raise the minimum wage to $9.50 by 2012, expand the earned income tax credit and strengthen labor laws to make easier for workers to join a union. [Census Bureau, 2007]

Fight Abusive Debt and Help Families Save: Latino borrowers are substantially more likely to receive subprime loans than white borrowers even when they have similar credit scores, and Latino households have less than a dime of wealth for every dollar owned by whites. Edwards will crack down on abusive credit card companies, predatory mortgage lenders, and payday loan shops that take advantage of working families. To help families save, he will provide matched savings accounts for low-wage workers. [CRL, 2006; Pew, 2004]

Comprehensive Immigration Reform: Our immigration system needs a fundamental overhaul. Our economy is harmed by an underground economy that features a large and unprotected labor force. And our values are violated by a system that keeps families apart and forces people to live in the shadows, vulnerable to abuse. The first step is to control our borders and stop illegal trafficking. At the same time, it is unrealistic to think that we can deport more than 12 million people. Edwards believes we need to give people here the opportunity to pay a fine and learn English to earn American citizenship.

Edwards will end the backlog of background checks for people who are already in this country and are applying to become lawful permanent residents and, eventually, citizens. Our immigration policies should bring families together, not keep them apart. Edwards believes family reunification is an important value that should be preserved in our immigration laws.

"Creo que todos en los Estados Unidos deben tener la misma oportunidad de construir una vida mejor, independientemente de la familia en la cual nacieron, el color de su piel o el país de donde vino su familia." -- John Edwards

Todavía hay dos Estados Unidos. Durante los últimos 20 años, 40 por ciento del crecimiento económico de los Estados Unidos ha ido a parar al uno por ciento más rico de la población. Hoy, los 300,000 estadounidenses más ricos ganan más que la totalidad de los 150 millones más pobres. John Edwards ha anunciado propuestas detalladas para construir un sólo Estados Unidos, donde todos tengan la misma oportunidad de tener éxito. [EPI, 2006; Sáez, 2007]

Cuidado Universal de Salud

45 millones personas en los Estados Unidos no tienen acceso a cuidado de salud y familias y negocios están luchando para pagar primas exorbitantes. Uno de cada tres latinos no tiene seguro de salud, el doble de los otros grupos. Edwards es el único de los candidatos principales que ha propuesto un plan específico para un verdadero cuidado universal de salud que se enfrentará a las compañías de seguros médicos y a las farmacéuticas, cubrirá a cada hombre, mujer y niño en los Estados Unidos y proveerá mejor cuidado a un costo más bajo.

Terminando con la Pobreza y Expandiendo la Clase Media

Cada día, 37 millones de personas en los Estados Unidos, incluyendo 29 por ciento de los latinos, se despiertan en condiciones de pobreza. Edwards ha delineado una ambiciosa agenda para eliminar la pobreza dentro de una generación, creando y recompensando más trabajos, fortaleciendo a las familias, ayudando a los trabajadores a ahorrar y a salir adelante, promoviendo vecindarios económicamente integrados, persiguiendo a los prestamistas depredadores, llegando a las áreas rurales que han sido olvidadas y esperando que las personas se ayuden a sí mismas trabajando cuando puedan hacerlo. Edwards aumentará el salario mínimo a $9.50 antes de 2012, expandirá el crédito por ingreso del trabajo (EITC, por las siglas en inglés) y fortalecerá las leyes laborales para que sea más fácil que los trabajadores se hagan miembros de una unión o sindicato.

Mejorando la Educación

Cincuenta años después del caso Brown v. Junta de Educación, los Estados Unidos todavía tienen dos sistemas educativos, separados y desiguales. Para darle a cada niño la oportunidad de salir adelante, Edwards invertirá en nuestros maestros, expandirá el acceso a la educación preescolar, fortalecerá el currículo de escuela secundaria para educar a nuestros jóvenes para los retos del siglo 21 y lidiará con la crisis de deserción escolar creando escuelas para segundas oportunidades. También hará la universidad más accesible a través de su programa “Universidad para Todos” que pagará por el primer año de matrícula en una universidad pública, libros y cuotas a estudiantes que estén dispuestos a trabajar a tiempo parcial y a no meterse en problemas.

Reforma Migratoria Integral

Nuestro sistema de inmigración necesita una revisión total. Nuestra economía se perjudica por una economía clandestina que presenta una fuerza trabajadora grande y desprotegida. Y nuestros valores son quebrantados por un sistema que mantiene a las familias separadas y fuerza a las personas a vivir en las sombras, vulnerables a abusos. El primer paso es controlar nuestras fronteras y detener el tráfico ilegal. Al mismo tiempo, no es realista pensar que podemos deportar a más de 12 millones de personas. Edwards cree que necesitamos dar a la gente que ya está aquí la oportunidad de pagar una multa y aprender inglés para obtener la ciudadanía estadounidense.

CAPTIONS:

"I am proud to have the support of these prominent leaders," said Edwards. "Too many Americans today are separated from the opportunities of this country, but working together, we can build One America where all people have the chance to work hard and get ahead. We can guarantee health care for every man, woman and child in this country, eliminate poverty and protect the right to organize, and ensure that future generations have the same opportunities to succeed that I've had."

These leaders are supporting Edwards because of his vision to build One America, where every person has the chance to succeed regardless of race, gender or income. Edwards has proposed bold policies to lift up Latino communities. He has proposed a truly universal health care plan, which would cover every man, woman and child in American, including the one out of every three Latinos who lack coverage. Edwards also has detailed plans to end poverty in America, expand our middle class and strengthen our education system.

"I strongly believe that John Edwards is the right man for the Democrats to nominate for the White House in 2008," said Grijalva. "He has shown principled leadership on the way in Iraq and on economic opportunity in America."

"John Edwards and I share a commitment to improving the lives of working families," said Gonzalez. "He understands, as I do, that the key to economic development is making sure that our society honors and rewards hard work. Any American who is willing to work hard should have the opportunity to create a better life for his or her family, and John Edwards has spent his life fighting to make this happen."

"I am proud to endorse my friend, Senator John Edwards," said Madrid, the first Hispanic woman ever elected to the position of state Attorney General. "He has always fought for real change in women's lives—working tirelessly to raise the minimum wage, end poverty and guarantee universal health care."

"The issues that John Edwards cares most passionately about and talks about everywhere he goes -- eliminating poverty, creating economic opportunities, bringing about universal health care, raising the minimum wage, and making the dream of home ownership more accessible to all Americans – are kitchen table issues for Latino families everywhere in this country," said Rep. Martinez Fischer.

Latino leaders endorsing Edwards include:

• U.S. Representative Raul Grijalva (AZ)
• U.S. Representative Charlie Gonzalez (TX)
• Former New Mexico Attorney General Patricia Madrid
• Vice Chair of the Texas Mexican American Legislative Caucus State Representative Trey Martinez Fischer
• Former Chair of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund Frank Herrera Jr. (TX) * (for identification purposes only)
• President of Unidos of Iowa Lena Avila Robinson
• President of Quad City Mexican American Organization Celia Rangel
• Latino PAC Board Member Jorge Herrera
• Former Chief of Staff to Orlando Mayor Jose Fernandez
• Maryland Assembly Delegate Victor Ramirez
• Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Clinton Interior Department Theresa Trujeque
• California State Assemblyman Pedro Nava
• UNLV Assistant Professor at the Boyd School of Law Robert Correales
• Texas Community Leader Enrique Moreno
• Florida Community Leader Mayra Uribe
• Missouri State Representative Mike Talboy
• Treasurer and Secretary of the Florida Hispanic Democratic Caucus George Muniz
• California State Senator Gloria Negrette- McLeod
• Washington D.C. Community Leader Sylvia Trujillo
• Director of Hispanic Outreach and Base vote in Central Florida for Kerry/Edwards 2004 Javier Cuebas
• Former DNC Hispanic Media Director Melissa Diaz
• CEO of Que Pasa Media Jose A. Isasi (NC)
• Texas State Representative Joe Farias
• Former Counsel to Solicitor for Clinton Administration Labor Department Geronimo Rodriguez
• Carboro Alderman John Herrera (NC)
• Rhode Island Community Leader Angel Taveras
• Former Albuquerque City Vice President Miguel Gomez
• Former U.S. Student Association President Eddy Morales
• Young Democrats of Puerto Rico National Committeeman Philip Aroyo

Prominentes Latinos Endosan A Edwards Para Presidente

Chapel Hill, Carolina del Norte – La campaña de John Edwards para Presidente anunció hoy que numerosos oficiales electos y líderes comunitarios latinos están apoyando al senador John Edwards para presidente. Los líderes latinos que apoyan a Edwards incluyen a los congresistas Raúl Grijalva (AZ) y Charlie González (TX), la ex procuradora general de Nuevo México Patricia Madrid, el vicepresidente del Caucus Legislativo México-Americano de Texas Trey Martínez Fischer y el ex presidente del Fondo México-Americano para la Defensa Legal y la Educación Frank Herrera, hijo.

"Estoy orgulloso de tener el apoyo de estos prominentes líderes", dijo Edwards. "Demasiadas personas en Estados Unidos están separadas de las oportunidades de este país, pero trabajando juntos podemos construir un Estados Unidos donde la gente tenga la oportunidad de trabajar duro y salir adelante. Nosotros podemos garantizar cuidado de salud para cada hombre, mujer y niño en este país, eliminar la pobreza y proteger el derecho a organizarse en una unión o sindicato, y asegurar que las futuras generaciones tengan las mismas oportunidades para tener el éxito que yo he tenido."

Estos líderes apoyan a Edwards debido a su visión para construir un sólo Estados Unidos, donde cada persona tenga la oportunidad de tener éxito independientemente de su raza, género o ingreso económico. Edwards ha propuesto audaces políticas públicas para ayudar a las comunidades latinas. Ha propuesto un plan universal de cuidado de salud, que cubrirá a cada hombre, mujer y niño en Estados Unidos, incluyendo a uno de cada tres latinos que carecen de cobertura. Edwards también tiene planes detallados para terminar con la pobreza en los Estados Unidos, expandir nuestra clase media y fortalecer nuestro sistema educativo.

"Creo firmemente que John Edwards es el hombre correcto para ser el candidato demócrata para la Casa Blanca en el 2008", dijo Grijalva. "Ha mostrado un liderazgo con principios en los temas de Iraq y la oportunidad económica en los Estados Unidos."

"John Edwards y yo compartimos un compromiso de mejorar las vidas de las familias trabajadoras", dijo González. "Él entiende, al igual que yo que la clave para el desarrollo económico es asegurar que nuestra sociedad honra y recompense el trabajo duro. Cualquier persona en los Estados Unidos que esté dispuesta a trabajar duro debe tener la oportunidad de crear una mejor vida para su familia y John Edwards ha luchado durante toda su vida para que esto sea posible."

"Estoy orgullosa de apoyar a mi amigo, el senador John Edwards", señaló Madrid, la primera hispana elegida a la posición de procuradora general de un estado. "Siempre ha luchado por un cambio real en las vidas de las mujeres, trabajando incansablemente para aumentar el salario mínimo, terminar la pobreza y garantizar cuidado universal de salud."

"Los asuntos que más le preocupan a John Edwards y de los cuales habla dondequiera que va, eliminar la pobreza, crear oportunidades educativas, brindar cuidado universal de salud, aumentar el salario mínimo y hacer el sueño de tener su propia vivienda más accesible a todos en Estados Unidos, son asuntos primordiales para las familias latinas en este país", dijo Rep. Martinez Fischer.

Los líderes latinos que apoyan a Edwards incluyen:

• Congresista Raúl Grijalva (AZ)
• Congresista Charlie González (TX)
• Ex procuradora general de Nuevo México Patricia Madrid
• Vicepresidente del Caucus Legislativo México-Americano de Texas Trey Martínez Fischer
• Ex presidente del Fondo México-Americano para la Defensa Legal y la Educación Frank Herrera, hijo. (TX) * (para propósitos de identificación solamente)
• Presidenta de Unidos con Iowa Lena Ávila Robinson
• Presidente de la Organización México-Americana de Quad City Celia Rangel
• Miembro de la Junta de Directores de Latino Leadership PAC Jorge Herrera
• Ex jefe de personal del alcalde de Orlando José Fernández
• Delegado de la Asamblea Estatal de Maryland Víctor Ramírez
• Ex subsecretaria auxiliar del Departamento del Interior en la Administración Clinton, Theresa Trujeque
• Asambleísta estatal de California Pedro Nava
• Profesor Asistente (Escuela de Derecho, Universidad de Nevada Las Vegas) Roberto Correales
• Líder comunitario de Texas Enrique Moreno
• Líder comunitaria de Florida Mayra Uribe
• Representante estatal de Missouri Mike Talboy
• Tesorero y Secretario del Caucus Demócrata Hispano de Florida George Muñiz
• Senadora Estatal de California Gloria Negrette- McLeod
• Líder comunitaria de Washington D.C. Sylvia Trujillo
• Director de Esfuerzos de Voto Hispano en la Florida Central Florida para la campaña Kerry/Edwards 2004 Javier Cuebas
• Ex Directora de Medios Hispanos del Comité Demócrata Nacional en el 2004 Melisa Díaz
• Principal oficial ejecutivo (CEO) de Qué Pasa Media José A. Isasi (NC)
• Representante estatal de Texas Joe Farias
• Ex asesor del Departamento del Trabajo en la Administración Clinton Gerónimo Rodríguez
• Concejal de Carboro John Herrera (NC)
• Líder comunitario de Rhode Island Ángel Taveras
• Ex vicepresidente de la ciudad de Albuquerque Miguel Gómez
• Ex presidente de la Asociación de Estudiantes de Estados Unidos Eddy Morales
• Ex Representante Nacional, Jóvenes Demócratas de Puerto Rico Philip Arroyo