#LatinasTakeAction, Pass Education Equity Bills today!

HOPE (Hispanas Organized for Political Equality) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization committed to ensuring political and economic parity of Latinas through leadership, advocacy, and education to benefit all communities and the status of women.

We are proud to advocate for Educational Equity bills that will help widen the pathway to higher education and expand access to critical financial aid. 

SB 309 (Leyva) College Readiness 4 All
This bill establishes the A–G Completion Improvement Grant Program for the purpose of providing additional support to local educational agencies (LEAs) to help increase the number of California high school students to attend a University of California (UC) or California State University (CSU). As a top recommendation from HOPE's Economic Status of Latinas Report (ESLR), expanding access to college pathways is critical to closing the opportunity gap. HOPE's ESLR notes that Latinas' High School Completion rate increased to 86% in 2019 but is still significantly behind other students whose high school completion rate is 91%.

​SB 309 will impact Latinas because in 2018, 63% of Latina recent high school completers enrolled in college, compared to 73% of White females, the gap widens for Latina students who are English Learners where only 40% enroll in college. Policies such as SB309 are critical investments in expanding A-G course offerings and widening the pathway to college enrollment for Latinas students.

AB1456 (Medina) CalGrant Reform Act
This bill would revise the established provisions outlined in the Cal Grant Program by simplifying the requirements to better meet students’ actual costs to attend college. These reforms would make it easier for low-income students to receive aid and expand the range of students eligible for assistance. Community colleges serve higher proportions of Black and Latinx students, serving as a critical entry point to a bachelor’s degree. Students, particularly community college students, do not have reliable access to financial aid.