    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1994, Book II)]
    [December 5, 1994]
    [Page 2148]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Memorandum on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans
    December 5, 1994

    Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies

    Subject: Executive Order No. 12900--Educational Excellence for Hispanic
    Americans

        Recognizing the importance of the educational needs of our Nation's
    Hispanic community, I signed Executive Order No. 12900 on February 22nd
    of this year. The Executive order took a strong, interagency, approach
    to identifying and correcting the shortcomings of our educational system
    in serving Hispanic youth. The Executive order created the President's
    Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans
    (``Commission''), which advises the President and the Secretary of
    Education on these issues. Further, the Executive order established the
    White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans
    (``White House Initiative''), which is housed in the Department of
    Education. Additionally, the Executive order states, in part, that:
          [E]ach Executive department and each [agency designated by the
            Secretary of Education] shall prepare a plan for, and shall
            document, both that agency's effort to increase Hispanic
            American participation in Federal education programs where
            Hispanic Americans currently are underserved, and that agency's
            effort to improve educational outcomes for Hispanic Americans
            participating in Federal education programs. * * * * Each
            agency's plan shall provide appropriate measurable objectives
            for proposed actions aimed at increasing Hispanic American
            participation in Federal education programs where Hispanic
            Americans currently are underserved.
        Given the current status of Hispanics in education and the need to
    prepare all of our youth for productive employment and lifelong
    learning, we must make the education of Hispanic youth and adults a high
    priority in order to achieve the goals set for us by title I of the
    Goals 2000: Educate America Act (``Goals 2000''). This will require that
    each of you, as stewards of your agencies, take a more active role in
    ensuring that the education-related programs of your agency serve
    Hispanics equitably, both qualitatively and quantitatively.
        Consistent with this purpose and with Executive Order No. 12900, I
    am directing that you identify as soon as possible a senior official who
    will act as liaison to the Commission and the White House Initiative to
    assist in this interagency initiative. The official should be at the
    Deputy Secretary level. Additionally, a second official in the agency--
    if possible, a Hispanic senior official--should be designated to serve
    as a co-liaison, who will be responsible for carrying out requests from
    the Commission. These two officials will work closely with the Executive
    Director of the White House Initiative.
        I know that you will cooperate fully with both the Commission and
    the White House Initiative. I also ask that to the extent practicable
    you honor any requests for appropriate information, including available
    data relating to the eligibility for, and participation by, Hispanic
    Americans in Federal education programs and the progress of Hispanic
    Americans in relation to the National Education Goals, as set forth in
    the Goals 2000 Act.

                                                          William J. Clinton