The White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans was established in September 1990 by President George H.W. Bush to provide advice and guidance to the secretary of education on education issues related to Hispanics and address academic excellence and opportunities to the Hispanic community. It was subsequently continued by President William J. Clinton under Executive Order 12900 [PDF, 15K] and President George W. Bush under Executive Order 13230 [PDF, 95K]. Plans are currently under way to issue a new executive order under the Obama Administration.

During the Clinton administration, the White House Initiative was governed by the Presidential Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans. The commission was tasked with: eliminating education inequities and disadvantages faced by Hispanic Americans; increasing Hispanic participation in federal education programs; eliminating unintended regulatory barriers to Hispanic participation in federal education programs; promoting and publicizing education opportunities and programs of interest to Hispanics; and encouraging private sector, state and community involvement in improving education for Hispanics. The commission issued several reports, including Creating the Will: Hispanics Achieving Educational Excellence [PDF, 1.35MB], and What Works for Latino Youth [PDF, 379K].

In 2001, the Bush Administration issued Executive Order 13230 [PDF, 95K], which established a new Presidential Advisory Commission and ensured the White House Initiative would continue in its role of staff support.

The commission was tasked with examining the underlying causes of the existing education achievement gap between Hispanic American students and their peers, and issued interim and final reports on the subject, The Road to a College Diploma [PDF, .98MB], and From Risk to Opportunity [PDF, 1.79MB], respectively. When the commission dissolved in 2003, the White House Initiative's focus shifted to community outreach and the establishing of its partnership program, Partnership for Hispanic Family Learning.

In May 2009, the Obama Administration appointed Juan Sepúlveda to the position of executive director. In this capacity, he is responsible for directing the efforts of the White House Initiative in engaging Hispanic students, parents, families, organizations and anyone working in or with the education system in communities nationwide as active participants in improving the academic achievement of Hispanic Americans. A senior executive, strategist and advocate, Sepúlveda's first task is to assist the White House in drafting the verbiage for the new executive order.

To facilitate the drafting of the new executive order and to reintroduce itself to the nation, the White House Initiative has been hosting as series of "Community Conversations [PDF, 67K]" at various venues across the country. These half- or full-day events are open dialogues between Juan and the White House Initiative staff and members of local communities. During these sessions, participants are asked two questions:

1. How can Latino education be improved? and
2. What should the White House Initiative be doing to spearhead those efforts?

Participants are asked to not only share their thoughts with the White House Initiative staff, but to share them with other participants in small-group discussions. They also are asked to write their thoughts and ideas down on index cards, which are then collected and transcribed, then distributed via a Listserv and posted online. The feedback received will play an integral role in the creation of the new executive order that will govern the work of the office.

White House Initiative Community Conversations are open to anyone with an interest in improving education for Hispanics. Typically, participants include representatives from the entire P-20 spectrum, including students, parents, educators, administrators, Latino business and community leaders, and faith-based organizations.

To view the schedule of upcoming community conversations, click here [PDF, 67K].

The White House Initiative staff, led by executive director Juan Sepúlveda, works in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education and its various program offices, including the following:

• Office of Communications and Outreach
• Office of Civil Rights
• Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
• Office of Postsecondary Education
• Federal Student Aid
• Institute of Education Sciences

Additional education-related resources are available online in both English and Spanish, including information about student loans and grants, internships and teaching resources.

You may also call 1-800-USA-LEARN to speak to a bilingual information resource specialist.