Jacobsen wants to help Latino students gain access to higher education

OLYMPIA – Although the Latino population is one of the fastest-growing ethnic groups in Washington, evidence shows that more work needs to be done to improve their college enrollment rates. Sen. Ken Jacobsen, D-Seattle, is proposing legislation to establish a joint select committee to look at ways to increase Latino accessibility to higher education.

“Barriers face the Latino community and this piece of legislation will hopefully help us identify ways to increase educational opportunities for Latinos,” Jacobsen said. “Data show us that Latinos are more likely than other ethnic groups to enter the work force after high school graduation and forego the pursuit of higher education.”

Jacobsen is the prime sponsor of Senate Concurrent Resolution 8403, which would create a joint select committee on Latino accessibility to higher education in consultation with the Washington Commission on Hispanic Affairs. Highlights of the legislation include:

• Increasing awareness of the educational challenges facing the Latino community;
• Developing programs to encourage and promote accessible and affordable higher education to Latino students; and
• Investigating ways to provide financial aid to help Latinos enroll and graduate from college.

In 2004, only 15 percent of Latinos in Washington who obtained a high school diploma enrolled in a four-year university.

“It just doesn’t match up,” Jacobsen said. “The overall population increase of Latinos in Washington state continues to grow while the enrollment, retention and graduation rates remain low. I’m hopeful that this bill will improve access to higher education for Latinos.”

SCR 8403 is scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Higher Education Committee at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, in Senate Hearing Room 3 of the John A. Cherberg Building in Olympia.

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