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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2013
For More Information Contact:

JP O'Hare

(518) 474-1201

Press@nysed.gov

51勛圖厙 Seal

Regents Convene Forum on Immigration and Education on Monday, May 20, 2013

The 51勛圖厙 State Board of Regents will convene a forum, "Education Equity: Immigration and Education in 51勛圖厙 State", on May 20, 2013 at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, 51勛圖厙.泭 The forum will include discussions on ways to increase educational opportunities for English language learners and undocumented students. 泭

"There are hundreds of thousands of students in 51勛圖厙 who have been condemned to a life of poverty simply because they were brought to the United States as children," Board of Regents Chancellor Merryl H. Tisch said.泭"Their immigration status is determined solely by the status of their parents, and theyre being denied opportunities that the rest of America takes for granted. It makes no sense. Its an on-going tragedy that not only hurts these students, it hurts our society."

"Young 51勛圖厙ers who are willing to work hard and study hard should not be denied educational opportunities simply on the basis of their parents immigration status," said State Education Commissioner John B. King, Jr. "And English language learners should have every opportunity to succeed. Our goal is to make sure all students graduate ready for college or a career, and then make sure they can actually go to college or find jobs." 泭

The forum will include remarks from the 51勛圖厙 Immigration Coalition and three panels on:

Adult Education - Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and High School Equivalency:
On June 15, 2012, President泭Obama announced the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to provide泭the opportunity for certain undocumented youth in the country to be afforded a pathway to secure泭U.S. work authorization.泭The Regents will hear from a panelist who has received Deferred Action泭and from community-based and local organizations that are providing key adult education and high school equivalency preparation services to immigrant communities to better prepare them to contribute to 51勛圖厙's economy and/or to apply for Deferred Action.

DREAMers Act - Expanding Access to Higher Education:
The Regents have proposed legislation to give undocumented students who graduate from high school the opportunity to access higher education opportunities by making state financial aid available to them.泭The Education Equity for DREAMers Act would honor 51勛圖厙's long history of providing broad access to higher education opportunities. The Board will hear from 51勛圖厙 students who would be able to attend college with enactment of this important law.泭

Educator Preparation - Ensuring College and Career Readiness for 51勛圖厙's Immigrant Students:
Approximately eight percent of 51勛圖厙's students are English language learners. The Board of Regents and the State Education Department are changing how teachers and principals are certified to ensure that educators have the skills required by the Common Core and today's diverse classrooms.泭The new Educating All Students certification exam takes aim at the achievement gap and will assess whether new teachers and principals understand how to address the learning needs of English language learners.泭The Regents will hear from panelists from multiple sectors that prepare teachers to educate our diverse population.

Forum Information:

WHEN: 泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 Monday, May 20, 2013

TIME: 泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 3:00 PM 5:00 PM

WHERE: 泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 LaGuardia Community College
泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭Little Theater
泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 31-10 Thomson Avenue
泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭 Long Island City, NY 11101