Partisan politics may doom California's young Latinos

California’s young Latinos will be facing a difficult future according to a new study by the Pew Hispanic Center. The study, which surveyed more than 1,200 Latinos ages 16 to 25, provides a pretty stark image of what is to come in the near future. While the study is about young Latinos, it is also about the future of this state. Based on this, it is clear there is no more room for partisan politics.

The Pew Hispanic Center is a think-tank that has been conducting numerous surveys about Latinos living in the United States. This latest study shows that young Latinos who have a child before the age of 19, will drop out of school and live in poverty. Although some may say “so what,” it is important to point out that 42 percent of California’s youth between 16 and 25 are Latino. Moreover, young Latinos are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population and are more likely than other young people to face this reality. This is a social and economic issue that cannot be ignored.

"If you want to understand what America is going to be like in the 21st century, you need to have understanding of how today's young Latinos, most of whom are not immigrants, will grow up," said Paul Taylor, director of the Pew Hispanic Center. "Never before in this nation's history has a minority ethnic group made up so large a share of the youngest Americans."

Taylor was also referring to the make-up of the young Latinos in the U.S. that is comprised of one-third immigrants and two-thirds native born. But, regardless of where they are born, some harsh realities are found in this study that include:

• One-fourth of Latinas have a child by age 19;
• Seventeen percent of young Latinos drop out of school;
• Twenty-three percent of young Latinos live in poverty;
• Thirty-three percent identify themselves as “Americans”;
• Forty-one percent identify themselves according to their parent’s homeland;
• Those born in the U.S. are more likely to have gang ties; and,
• Those born in the U.S. are more likely to be incarcerated.

The study also found that Latinos believe education as the key to resolve these issues.

California has the opportunity to begin addressing this issue, but it belies on its legislative leaders to take notice and set aside the partisan politics that continues to gnaw at the failing education system.

In an article published last week regarding the Race To The Top, California’s State Assembly failed to negotiate enough votes to put through Senate legislation needed to compete for up to $700 million offered by the Obama Administration. Instead, it offered its own version of the bill, which was more appeasing to the powerful California Teacher’s Association. The key components of contention: More parental involvement, and no cap on Charter schools. The message received: Latino parents shouldn’t get involved, and too bad a Latino child is stuck in a poor performing school.

The Senate has taken a non-partisan approach.  Now, hopefully with the leadership of newly selected Speaker John Perez, the Assembly will take a second look at what is really ailing California and force partisan politics to take a back seat.