If Republicans have it their way many low-income families, looking to further their children’s education, will have to apply for loans and/or get two jobs just to pay for college. That is because Pell grants have become the next target in the Republican budget cut plan. Pell grants provide low-income families with financial aid from the government for a higher education.
Here are some quick statistics to go over:
In 2008, Latinos had the second highest poverty rate in the country at 23.2 percent following African-Americans at 24.7 percent. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2009 43.6 million (14.3%) Americans were living poverty.
40 percent of Latino undergraduates receive Pell grants. Over all 9.4 million students will receive Pell grants in the next year.
Is it a coincidence that ever since the U.S. Census Bureau published the 2010 census report indicating that Hispanics/Latinos represent 16% of the total U.S. population that Republicans have become so aware of budget cuts? Could it be because most of those budget cuts would affect the poor among of which Latinos/Hispanics rank second?
In other words the Latino/Hispanic population grew at rate of 43% since the last census. Coincidentally, 1 in 5 children of Latinos/Hispanic ethnicity, whose parents are U.S. citizens, make up school age kids.
Please watch the enclosed “2010 Hispanic Population Brief” based on the 2010 U.S. Census results. Our growth can only be slowed by economic roadblocks. Let us be smart about how we invest in our kids future and education. We no longer should salivate at the sight of the crumbs thrown our way. We deserve more.