California's Latino Students Score Past Peers in Advance Placement Examinations

California's Latino and black students scored past their peers from other states in Advanced Placement examinations.

According to this year's results of the College Board, 53.1% Latino students in California got a 3 or higher on at least one test, compared with 50% of students in other states, LA Times reported. California black students also scored higher (43%) in contrast to elsewhere's 32.3%.

Aside from the Latinos and blacks, white children in California also had higher test scores than their peers in other states. 53.1% of the students received a 3 or higher on at least one test, in contrast with the 50% elsewhere, the news outlet noted. About 71.5% of Asians, on the other hand, received a 3 or higher on a test, compared with other states' 72.2%.

The AP program gives high school students a chance to take high-level classes for college credit, LA Times wrote. It also increases college admission chances and can assist students in acquiring positions in advanced classes in college. In addition, the number of students, especially minorities, who are taking up AP tests and classes in the U.S., are increasing.

According to LA Times, districts are eliminating strict entrance requirements such as "grades, admission tests, and teacher recommendations that disproportionately keep students of color" out of advanced classes.

Nicole Mirra, an assistant professor in English education at the University of Texas at El Paso, said that low-income students and students of color should be prepared as early as elementary school for AP classes. This support from districts should then continue in AP classrooms.

"Equity is not just about opening the door to the classroom," said Mirra, as quoted by LA Times. "But thinking about 'What do we need to do to offer them the support they need once they get there?'"

University in Utah Succeeds in Acquiring More Latino Students

Utah Valley University formulated a plan in 2007 that aims to attract more Latino students. Just recently, the institution reportedly reached their goal and tripled the number of Hispanic students they had enrolled, Fox News Latino reported.

In 2009, UVU President Dr. Matthew Holland sought "authorization of funds, resources and personnel for that project," said Yudi Lewis, the director of the institution's Latino Initiative, as reported by Fox News Latino.

According to Lewis, the university trained its eyes on the Latino population through numerous activities, events, and projects both within and outside UVU. Because of the effort, the university went from 1,066 Latino students in 2007 to more than 3,000 enrollees for the current school year, which represents 10% of all their students, Fox News Latino added. Hispanics take up 13% of the state's 3 million population.