(Santa Ana)— Claudia C. Alvarez, Rancho Santiago Community College District Board (RSCCD) of Trustees member, will join the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund and more than 55 Latino public officials from across the country to discuss the state of Latino education and strategies for ensuring access to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education within the Latino community.

The event will take place September 30 - October 2 at The Westin Georgetown, as part of the NALEO Educational Fund’s 9th Annual National Summit on the State of Latino Education in Washington, D.C.  The two-and-a-half day convening will provide school board members, college trustees, and state legislators with a forum to initiate a dialogue around education reform and the critical topic of STEM education in this country.

“We, at RSCCD, enjoy having a constituency with a vast number of bright young students eager to learn and prepare for today's job market. Because STEM education is essential for their success, providing our community access to STEM education is one of my top priorities,” said Alvarez. “I commend NALEO for engaging and preparing education leaders nationwide in this strategic conversation of vast importance regarding STEM education. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues at RSCCD and our education partners at home in achieving our STEM education goals on behalf of our students.”

The economic competitiveness of the United States will depend on its ability to cultivate a STEM-ready workforce that is prepared to meet the needs of a 21st century job market.  Creating an education continuum within the Latino community that fosters academic preparation for students from early learning programs through higher education will be vital as Latinos represent the second largest population group in the country. 

Alvarez will have the opportunity to develop strategic partnerships with other leaders and engage in informational panels that cover the latest research, model programs, and policy recommendations regarding STEM education.  Participants will also hear from a number of elected officials and experts that will help them advance STEM education access in their communities, including Colorado Lieutenant Governor Joseph Garcia, NALEO President and California State Senator Alex Padilla, University of Denver Professor Dr. Douglas Clements and University of Texas at Arlington Professor Dr. Ramon E. Lopez.

The 9th Annual National Summit on the State of Latino Education is made possible through the generous support of Title Sponsors, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and State Farm®.

A full schedule and list of speakers is available on the NALEO Educational Fund website at http://www.naleo.org/2013EdSummit.html.

About the Rancho Santiago Community College District
The mission of the Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD) is to respond to the educational needs of an ever-changing community and to provide programs and services that reflect academic excellence. Santa Ana College and Santiago Canyon College are public community colleges of RSCCD, which serve the residents of Anaheim Hills, East Garden Grove, Irvine, Orange, Santa Ana, Tustin and Villa Park. Both colleges provide education for academic transfer and careers, courses for personal and professional development, customized training for business and industry, and programs to train nurses, firefighters and law enforcement personnel.