Having come to the United States from Cuba as a child, I experienced
the challenges of assimilating into a new community firsthand. As the
representative of one of our Nation's most diverse districts, many of
my constituents experience these challenges every day. Giving
immigrants the tools they need to succeed is not only beneficial to our
country, it is sound policy. According to The Wall Street Journal, Union City Public Schools
``have become a model for ushering low-income English-language learners
into the mainstream.''
With a student body that is 95 percent Hispanic, one of the keys to
Union City Public Schools' success is their English as a second
language program and their early childhood programming. The programming
has become a model for educators in the U.S. and as far away as Europe. Graduation rates have also increased by nearly 10 percent, in just 2
years, in the district. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to represent a school district that has made
tremendous strides in easing the transition of immigrant youth into our
society and become the foundation of success for thousands of children
and young adults.
Keywords matched
immigrant immigrants