A VAST MAJORITY OF HISPANIC PARENTS WANT THEIR CHILDREN TO GO TO COLLEGE, YET 66% DO NOT HAVE THE INFORMATION TO MAKE IT A REALITY

White House Initiative on Hispanic Education Launches Interactive, Bilingual Website Featuring Tools for Families with Information on Getting to College

College Knowledge a Priority
According to a study released Thursday, July 11, 2002, by the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute, 96% of the Hispanic parents surveyed expected their children to go to college, but researchers found 66% of the parents failed to answer 4 out of 8 basic questions about what it takes to make college a reality for their family. The findings suggest that unless these knowledge deficits are remedied, Latino children are likely to miss out on crucial steps leading to college.

www.YesICan.gov
The White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans, along with its strategic partners, created over 350 HTML pages of bilingual content that fills a tremendous void within the Hispanic community for quality educational guides used to outline a roadmap for college.

Working together with U.S. Education Secretary Rod Paige, the White House Initiative will be launching a nationwide grassroots effort to make these tools available to parents, educators, and community leaders.

What kind of Tools Can Parents Find on the Website?
YesICan.gov (YoSiPuedo.gov) provides interactive tool kits aimed at building awareness among parents and students. Some of the resources include information on the Myths and Facts about College Costs, 20 Questions to Ask Your Guidance Counselor, and Things You Need to Know About Paying for College.

Starting Early with www.YesICanKids.gov!
The foundation for college begins at a very early age, and Pablo the Eagle, an animated talking character, hosts the bilingual Kids' Zone and guides children through an entertaining list of illustrated tales that encourage a love for reading and learning. The site features artwork and letters from children to the President and Mrs. Bush. The Kid's Zone also includes a link to www.whitehousekids.gov.

For more information, contact the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans at
202-401-1411 or via email at WhiteHouseforHispanicEducation@ed.gov.