Nonprofit Group Provides Road Map to Increase Hispanic Degree Attainment

Excelencia in Education released a sweeping policy road map on Wednesday explaining how it believes communities, colleges, states, and the federal government can increase Hispanic graduation rates-a key component of meeting the nation's college-completion goals.

The road map recommends that colleges focus their policy work on increasing retention for working students, growing early-college high schools and dual-enrollment programs, and guaranteeing need-based aid for qualified students.

With Hispanics poised to make up 20 percent of 18- to 64-year-olds by 2020, the road map says that work is crucial.

In addition to a host of policy recommendations, the road map includes a profile of Hispanic undergraduates that counters misperceptions; benchmarking data to track progress in meeting attainment goals; and examples of efforts that "move the needle" on Hispanic degree attainment.