College graduates earn much more than those without a college education, and college graduates are more prevalent in metro than nonmetro areas, which contributes to higher earning levels in metro locales. Recent data from the Current Population Survey show that the metro advantage in college completion rates is growing over time. College completion rates rose across all major racial and ethnic groups in both metro and nonmetro areas between 1996 and 2006. By 2006, high school completion rates for most racial and ethnic groups were 80% or more in nonmetro areas and above 86% in metro areas. However, high school completion rates for Hispanics remained far lower than for other groups.

Redondo Beach, CA (PRWEB) March 27, 2008 -- An increasing number of colleges and universities are reaching out to successful Latino entrepreneurs and keynote speakers as the choice for their commencement speeches in 2008. Hispanic speakers are in high demand as their experience appeals to graduation audiences from a fresh, previously unheard perspective.

"While we have seen some interest in the past, in 2008 the link between education and success has aroused a greater interest for Latinos and other minorities to bring their message and vision of hope and opportunity to commencement ceremonies around the U.S.," said Leonor McCall-Rodriguez, President of the Latino Speakers Bureau and long time NSHP member.

In Raleigh, NC, the Hispanic population is rapidly increasing. At the same pace, there seems to be a increase in high school dropouts. In Wake County, 17 percent of high school dropouts are Hispanic, but a new English language boot camp aims to reverse the trend.

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission has announced the expansion of it's Spanish language resources. Resources are now available at www.eac.gov. The EAC home page now includes an En Español section which provides information about registering to vote, the Help America Vote Act, and the EAC's Language Accessibility Program. The section also includes a Spanish Glossary of Election Terminology, a voter resources center, and resources for the military and overseas voters.

New released data from the 2007 Current Population Survey’s Annual Social and Economic Supplement, which is conducted in February, March and April at about 100,000 addresses nationwide:

* Adults with advanced degrees earn four times more (average $82,320) than those with less than a high school diploma (average $20,873).

Controversial study points out racial disparity in the Alexandria, VA city's schools; administrators object.

When Leslie Auceda was in the sixth grade, her mother arrived at George Washington Middle School for a parent-teacher conference ready to learn about the progress her daughter was making in school. But she did not speak English, so she waited; after an hour and a half of waiting, Leslie’s mother surmised that the teachers were giving preference to the English-speaking parents. So she gave up and walked out — never to return to another parent-teacher conference.

As Leslie moved toward graduation, she said, she had a growing suspicion that she was receiving different treatment than her white classmates.

According to a recent report from researchers at Rutgers University, Hispanic children lag behind other ethnic groups in access to preschool education. From 1991 to 2005, participation rates increased for all ethnic groups, but Hispanic children had by far the lowest pre-K participation rate. African Americans had the highest participation rates, the study said.

The study's results suggest that lack of access, the report said, not desire or knowledge of the advantages was probably the main reason Hispanic children were not attending preschool at the rates other ethnic groups were.

Dora the Explorer greatest adventure is perhaps her continuing mission to introduce young fans to cultural diversity, an element that's as rare as magic coins on grown-up TV.

She's had some help. The presence of minorities in preschool programming dates back to the late '60s, when Gordon and Maria took up residence on "Sesame Street." Roughly half of the most popular shows among 2- to 5-year-olds today feature black, Hispanic or Asian characters in starring roles, including the "Dora" spinoff "Go, Diego, Go,"Handy Manny" and "Little Einsteins."Ni Hao, Kai-lan," debuting next year on Nick Jr., will mix in Mandarin words and phrases throughout tales about Chinese culture.

More Hispanic high-school students were prepared for college in 2006 than they were just four years earlier, according to a report released by ACT.

Hispanic high-school graduates who took the college-admissions test in 2006 had, on average, higher combined scores than those who took it in 2002, and they also scored higher, on average, in each of the test’s subject areas — English, mathematics, reading, and science.

The average scores increased even as 19,026 more Hispanic students took the ACT in 2006 than in 2002.