Saying the 2013 budget aims to ensure the well-being of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI), the government unveiled a plan that will appropriate funds for the improvement of education and promotion of citizenship and immigration.
In a statement, the White House Initiative on AAPIs (WHIAAPI) noted, “The Budget targets scarce federal resources to the areas critical to growing the economy and restoring middle-class security.”
President Obama proposed last Feb. 13 a record $3.8 trillion budget plan for 2013 that called for stimulus-style spending on roads and schools, among others.
That day, the WHIAAPI, a federal interagency working group created to improve the quality of life of AAPIs, issued a statement that specified how the proposal will benefit the community.
From the proposed budget, some $30 million is allocated for a new competitive grant that will improve teacher education programs at minority-serving institutions.
“[This is] is a significant pipeline for preparing a diverse teaching force,” the WHIAPPI statement said.
The government first announced its plans to hire more minority teachers in 2011 following a set of recommendations for President Obama by the WHIAAPI through the Department of Education. The plan is expected to better serve the growing AAPI population in public schools.
“While AAPIs comprise 3.9 percent of the total enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools, they represent only 1.5 percent of teachers,” the report said.
Still another $55 million from the 2013 budget is apportioned for a new initiative that will increase college access and completion.
“[This will] improve educational productivity through an evidence-based grant competition, up to $20 million of which will go directly to minority serving institutions,” the statement said.
The WHIAAPI also noted that some $8.1 million in funds are assigned for the improvement of Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs).
These are colleges or universities with a student body that is at least 10 percent Asian American and/or Pacific Islander.
“AANAPISI-eligible institutions enroll 75 percent of the low-income AAPI undergraduate students in US higher education,” the WHIAAPI said.
It added, “They also serve communities with disproportionately high numbers of English learners and individuals with low academic achievement.”
Meanwhile, President Obama’s 2013 budget proposal apportioned $11 million to promote citizenship among immigrants. The funds are allocated for preparation programs and expansion of innovative English learning tools.
“AAPIs are one of the fastest growing groups in the United States, and by 2050, will make up 9.2 percent of the population – approximately 40.6 million people,” the WHIAAPI statement said.
“Nearly two-thirds of AAPIs are foreign-born and many have interacted with the immigration system,” it added.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(Las Vegas Feb 16-22, 2012 Sec A pg.1)
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