October 29, 1999
Statement of Need:
APA is the fastest growing population in the US. Consequently,
the percentage of APA students in public schools increased tremendously
in the last few decades. However, there are many un-met needs.
- Currently, Asian Pacific American communities lack a unified
voice to advocate for APA education at the national level.
- The existing national APA organizations do not have adequate
resources to take on the work of monitoring and disseminating
education policy analysis.
- Many APA community leaders and activists work in isolation due
to the lack of an established national network or forum for concerted
effort.
- In many states where the APA population is scattered and spread
a cross large geographical areas there is no APA voice in education
policy at state level.
- The model minority myth impacts APA students' needs negatively
by presuming that all APA students do well in schools.
- The diversity of the APA communities are often not understood
and perceived by policy making individuals and organizations.
- Social-cultural and linguistic barriers prevent APA parents,
especially the recent arrivals and immigrants from meaningful
participation in their own children's education.
Description of NCAS:
The National Coalition of Advocates for Students (NCAS) is a nationwide
network of experienced child advocacy organizations. NCAS works
to improve access to quality public education for children of
greatest need. NCAS's constituencies include students who are
poor, racial, ethnic and/or language minorities, recent immigrants,
agricultural migrants, or who have special needs. Founded in 1976,
NCAS now has 20 member organizations in 14 states and the District
of Columbia.
NCAS has also been the leading national organization to address educational needs of Asian Pacific American students and their families on a national scale. For the last six years the National Asian Family/School Partnership Project has been a national project of the NCAS. The project is now in phase III and it has served and is serving the Asian American community in cities and states: Chicago, Illinois; Des Moines, Iowa; Houston,
Texas; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Richmond, California; San Diego, California; Seattle, Washington; and St. Petersburg, Florida.
Since the early 1980's NCAS has developed and maintained a large collection of research materials related to education of immigrant students from many lands of origin. This collection contains an array of materials on APA students and their needs in public schools. This collection would be expanded as part of strengthening NCAS's capacity to conduct analysis of education policy from the perspective of APA communities.
Goal and Objectives:
Goal:
The proposed National Education Policy project is an education
policy analysis and policy advocacy for the Asian Pacific American
communities at the national level and in some key states in legislation
and programs.
Objectives:
National:
Federal Legislation and Programs
- Monitor all legislation that have potential impact on APA communities
in education.
- Monitor all federal education programs that affect APA communities.
Examples ofissues:(how these affect APA students)
- standards, assessment, testing, curriculum development, bilingual
education, and resource allocation.
State:
State Legislation and Programs
The project focuses on the top five states where there is a highest
need. The states are: (tentative list) California, Florida, Massachusetts,
Minnesota, and Texas.
- Monitor all legislation that affect APA communities in education.
- Monitor all state programs that affect APA communities.
Example: the Unz Initiative in California.
Program Design:
The project will collaborate with existing APA advocacy groups
both at the national and state level to monitor, advise and analyze
education policies, programs, and practices impacting APA communities.
- Legislative, project staff provide APA information to legislators
and policy makers at both federal and key states.
- Community education, work closely with APA community based organizations
(CBO) to provide them information that they need on the issues
that affect their communities and to work closely with APA media
to inform parents.
- Community organizing, work with some key APA CBO to develop
education organizing projects for parents and communities.
Research/Documentation:
National targeted research/documentation on some of the APA educational
interests: For examples:
- National/state report on the education status of APA students
or on an individual Asian community.
- Document legal action taken on behalf of APA students. - Create
an education information clearinghouse for APA. - Develop policy
analysis papers or policy statements. - Produce and disseminate
a regular policy update.
Program Design:
The project will develop working relationship with the universities,
colleges, institutes and centers that have APA education focus
to conduct research and document of the APA educational interests.
Resource/Funding Development:
The project will work with a number of the APA CBO in the country
to develop and strengthen their capacity in fundraising for their
educational programs and projects. Programs:
- Program to support parent school involvement.
- Support after school program.
- Build partnership between school/CBO and APA parents.
Program Design:
The project will develop partnership with APA CBO to raise fund
for their educational programs and provides education technical
information to CBO.
Leadership Development:
The project will train future generation of APA leaders to work
with educational policy issues.
At level: federal governments and programs; states; national foundations/funders;
superintendence/principal; and other education policy positions.
Program Design:
To develop graduate internship program; to work with other APA
national/state organizations to collaborate and be more affective
on APA educational policy issues; and to recruit APA teachers/staff
into policy positions at the schools.
Staffing
The project will be headed by a high level Project Director. The
Project Director works closely with a national APA education policy
advisory council and the NCAS Executive Director.