Earlier this month, The Education Trust handed out grades for Hispanic college and degree attainment — and Idaho flunked.
Only 12.7 percent of Idaho’s Hispanic adults have a two- or four-year degree, the lowest percentage in the nation. That earned Idaho an “F” for attainment rates; Idaho was one of only five states to receive a failing grade.
Two perspectives on The Education Trust research, including one from Idaho:
An Idaho perspective. In Wednesday’s Idaho Press, reporter Nicole Foy looks at programs available to help Hispanic students. One is the College Assistant Migrant Program scholarship, a federal program available at the University of Idaho and Boise State University.
Even though Boise State’s CAMP scholarship is limited to one year, the numbers suggest it is making a difference. In 2016-17, 97 percent of Boise State CAMP recipients successfully completed their first year of college, Foy reports, while 91 percent completed their second year of school, at Boise State or another college.
A New Mexico perspective. The state with the largest percentage of Hispanic residents scored a “C-plus” in The Education Trust’s rankings.
“New Mexico is a majority-minority state, and every policy the department undertakes is through the lens of minorities and underserved populations,” New Mexico Higher Education Secretary Barbara Damron said in a written statement to the Albuquerque Journal.
Among the state’s policies: a higher education formula that rewards college and universities that educate low-income students, and a uniform course numbering system that allows students to transfer more easily.
Coming this fall: Idaho Education News will take an in-depth look at the “60 percent goal” — and the socioeconomic barriers the state will need to overcome to meet this milestone. Here is a link to our award-winning series from December on the elusive 60 percent goal.