More minority grads

Graduation numbers increased a bit between 2003 and 2004 for most minority groups, but they still lag behind white students in Utah schools.

The State Office of Education has released graduation statistics in a cohort study of students who were both sophomores and juniors in 2002. And for both years, the study shows the state losing about 15 percent of its students before they hit graduation.

Lower graduation rates for minorities is old news in Utah, but Kristine Kearl, state associate superintendent, said the figures do show the achievement gap closing a bit.

However, in a panel discussion on race relations at Salt Lake Community College Thursday, minority group leaders vented their concerns.

Edith Mitko, director of the Utah Office of Asian Affairs, pointed to high minority dropout rates as evidence that there are disparities in the education system.

She added that dropout rates are thought to be higher than reported.

"Utah really needs to recognize there is a lot of discrimination going on, on the one-on-one level, on the teaching level, on the systems level."

But Kearl said that, if anything, this week's reports underrepresent the numbers of those students actually graduating.

She said some students leave the state and if their previous schools do not receive transfer information, students are often marked as dropping out.

But some minority leaders say a lack of cultural consideration in the schools has played a big part in lagging minority numbers.

Forrest Cuch, director of the Utah Office of Indian Affairs, said schools provide very little information or recognition of the state's indigenous people. He said racial discrimination is real in elementary and secondary schools.

"We have generation upon generation not properly educated," he said, noting that while Native Americans are often counted for grants, most of the money goes to programs benefiting white students.

But Tony Yapias, former director of the State Office of Hispanic Affairs, said the rates show a continuation of "baby steps" toward equality in education.

The gain may be small, but Kearl said it shows Utah is moving toward closing some of those gaps in achievement levels and graduation rates.

"There is still a lot of work that needs to be done in our schools," Yapias said. He credited No Child Left Behind's achievement requirements for helping spur a "greater effort to work with our ethnic populations. At the same time, it's not enough."

More after-school and mentoring programs are needed to motivate young Hispanics to graduate from high school, Yapias said. And multicultural college fairs, such as this weekend's "Keys of Success" Latino Community Education Fair, are a good way to spur youths' interest in education.

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