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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Vice President


For Immediate Release June 15, 2000

VICE PRESIDENT GORE ANNOUNCES NEW GRANTS TO HELP HISPANIC FAMILIES

EDUCATE THEIR CHILDREN

New York, New York--Speaking via satellite to the White House Strategy Session on Improving Hispanic Student Achievement, Vice President Gore announced today new grant awards and innovative outreach strategies geared toward increasing the achievement of Hispanic students at all levels of education--from preschool through college. In making this announcement, the Vice President cited the importance of educating all our children to high standards, and ensuring educational excellence for America's fastest-growing student population -- Hispanic students.

"We can never be satisfied with a Hispanic drop-out rate that hovers around 30 percent. We have to do better," Vice President Gore said. "That is why our administration is launching a new effort to get Hispanic families more information about the importance of early childhood education to our children's future -- and to help them find the right programs in their own communities."

The Vice President also announced new grants under the Hispanic Education Action Plan, as well as a package of outreach and technical assistance efforts by federal agencies and national not-profit groups to improve the quality of education in the Hispanic community. The Hispanic Education Action Plan (HEAP) grants awarded today will strengthen Hispanic Serving Institutions (HIS) by supporting faculty development, academic programs and student services. Specifically:

In closing his remarks, Vice President Gore stressed the importance of closing the education gap in this generation.

"Sometimes, it may feel as if closing the opportunity gap is a challenge that will take generations. With the caring and commitment of the nation's parents and teachers -- with all the creativity and curiosity of our children -- I know we can achieve excellence, for all our students, in this generation," Vice President Gore said.

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