Recognizing that some Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have more educational disparities than others do, the U.S. Department of Education has launched a new, $1 million grant program aimed at improving college and career prospects.
State education agencies can apply for federal monies supporting their efforts to collect and evaluate disaggregated data of AAPIs in educational institutions and in English-language learning programs beyond the existing seven racial and ethnic categories. Such statistics help determine which ethnicities have less access to formal schooling than others and which subgroups are less likely to complete degree and certificate programs. The data shape tutoring, mentoring and other outreach to disadvantaged AAPIs.
“AAPIs are our fastest-growing racial group, and with this rapid growth comes rich, cultural and linguistic diversity that’s a huge asset to our country,” said Education Secretary John B. King Jr. “At the same time, there’s urgent need to address daily challenges that AAPIs face. Many AAPIs face the model minority myth—the notion that virtually all of them have access to quality education and are affluent—which has prevented AAPIs from fully benefiting from federal programs and resources that can support vulnerable and underserved people. In reality, the AAPI community is not a monolithic group. They face unique challenges—including in education.”
King called the new grant program “a foundational step in addressing opportunity gaps.”
He noted that AAPIs trace their ancestries to more than 300 countries and racial groups combined and that more than 100 different languages are spoken by these subgroups.
Called the “AAPI Data Disaggregation Initiative,” the grant program is the latest endeavor by federal officials to encourage educators to find and address disparities.
Since 2013, federal officials have convened symposia that brought together policymakers, data specialists and experts in demography and institutional research to discuss ways of developing data systems and solutions that benefit AAPIs in K-12 and higher education.
