Language Barriers Hinder Parent, School Relations

NEW YORK - The findings of the Univision-AP Poll relating to Hispanics and Language Barriers in Education show that despite valuing high school completion, language barriers are crucial obstacles for Hispanics when helping their children with school, and achieving graduation. According to the poll:

Of the Hispanic children enrolled in K-12 classes, 78 percent were taught in English, while 3 percent were taught in Spanish.

The ability to communicate “extremely well” with a child’s school among English- and Spanish-dominant Hispanic parents was 35 percent vs. 20 percent, respectively.

When it comes to parents helping their children with schoolwork, 59 percent of English-dominant Hispanics consider it easy to assist their children, compared with 42 percent for Spanish speakers.

80 percent of English-dominant parents said their children were more likely to seek help from them as well as friends and family, whereas only 57 percent for Spanish-dominant.

The study also found that:

48 percent of Hispanics believe that the quality of K-12 education in their local schools ranged from “very poor” to “fair,” while 47 percent believe it to be good or excellent.

15 percent of Hispanic parents of school age children said they do not get enough information about how their child is progressing in school. 17 percent of parents speaking only Spanish felt that way compared to 21 percent of Spanish-dominant parents who came to the U.S. before they were 18.

In addition, 63 percent of Hispanics said the economy would improve “a lot” if more students graduated high school.

“The Univision-AP Poll findings related to Language Barriers corroborate the obstacle Hispanic parents face when helping children with their school work,” said Cesar Conde, President of Univision Networks. “At Univision we understand these realities and through ‘Es El Momento’ are helping provide the tools Hispanic parents need to help advance their children’s education beyond high school.”