Organization unites Latino business leaders in Utah’s education reform effort

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Group strives to close education gaps for Latinos, strengthen Utah’s workforce

SALT LAKE CITY – Today, several of Utah’s Latino business leaders united with Competitive America to shine a light on significant educational challenges facing Utah’s Latino students and the impact this will have on the future workforce. Latinos, which make up 12 percent of Utah’s population, drop out of a rate of 40 to 50 percent every year.
“This is a state crisis, which is why these Latino business leaders are coming together. Ask any business leader and they’ll tell you the negative impact an uneducated workforce has on their company,” said Julio Fuentes, vice president of Competitive America. “Failing so many Latino students by not getting them the education they need will be a drain on the state’s economy for decades to come.”
The high Latino student dropout rate is more than twice the rate of white students and leads to the fact that only 10 percent of Latinos go on to achieve college degrees. In addition, Latinos trail white students on every test administered by the state including the National Assessment of Educational Progress, the Basic Competency Skills Test and the Iowa Test of Basic Skills by significant margins. Latinos in Utah are also trailing other Latinos throughout the country.
“I’m a strong believer in public schools and in giving Latino parents choice,” said Tony Yapias, former director of the state office of Hispanic affairs and public school parent. “Through my work in the community, it is evident that parents want to have choices. By giving parents opportunity, we can strengthen the entire Utah educational system.”
The press event announcing the coalition was held today at 11 a.m. at the Latino Community Center at 1355 West 3100 South in West Valley City. In addition to Fuentes and Yapias, participants included Marco Diaz, former chairman of the Utah Republican National Hispanic Assembly and newly-elected vice chairman of the National Republican Hispanic Assembly, Antonella Packard, president of the Latin American Chamber of Commerce, Quiko Cornejo, founder of the Utah Minority Community Information and Education Center and Claudia Burnet, a Utah parent.

“Nationwide polls have shown that Hispanics and African Americans support school choice more than any other groups. Unfortunately, it’s because their children are performing poorly in the current system,” said Diaz. “Despite having all three of my children in public schools, I believe parents should have the freedom to find an alternative that is best-suited for each child."


ABOUT COMPETITIVE AMERICA
While remaining politically neutral, Competitive America is bringing business leaders together to influence the reshaping of the American educational system. Many plans exist for the improvement of our public schools. Our task is not to take sides, but to urge action among those with the power to act, the power to change our nation for the better.

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