Institution:
University of New Mexico School of Law
Academic Level:
Baccalaureate
Designation:
Examples of Excelencia
Address:
University of New Mexico School of Law
Address 2:
MSC 11 6300 / 1 University of New Mexico
ENgaging LAtino Communities in Education (ENLACE) is a grassroots initiative dedicated to empowering marginalized Hispanic/Latino communities through a comprehensive pre-school through graduate/professional educational pipeline. ENLACE sustains and increases learning opportunities and the degree of engagement among constituents at every level of education, beginning in early elementary school and culminating with college- and graduate-level education.
Goal/Mission:
ENLACE endeavors to reduce the Hispanic dropout rates in grades P-12 by helping to create state-wide systemic change throughout a P-20 educational pipeline and, therefore, contributes to increasing the number of Hispanic students successfully graduating from institutions of higher education. In collaboration with the state department of education, higher education dept, as well as many legislators, as well as Governor Bill Richardson. ENLACE also sets out to institutionalize culturally rooted best practices in classrooms across New Mexico. Other long-term goals involve policy work to mobilize Hispanic/Latino communities to continue advocating for improvements in educational opportunities for their youths and importing cultural competence into the school culture through parental input.
Outcome:
In 2004-2005, ENLACE touched, and positively impacted, the lives of 9,433 Hispanic/Latino parents, 12,408 Hispanic/Latino K-12 students (directly) and 85,350 that have participated in ENLACE via student contacts with various parts of the program , 414 post-secondary Hispanic/Latino students (undergraduate and professional school students), and 97 Hispanic/Latino and non-Hispanic/Latino teachers throughout New Mexico. The effectiveness of ENLACE is also visible through an internal comparison of students at different points in their educational trajectory. Specifically, comparing students’ performance in grades 6-9 show significant overall improvements in students’ school performance, as measured through comparisons in grade-point averages (GPAs) at these two points, data also collected is student attendance rates that showed a 97% increase in attendance, more Latino students involved and talking Advance Placement courses, drop in discipline referrals, and more Latino applications of Undergraduates to graduate, law and medical schools, those students who went through ENLACE as young students.
