Implementation Description
In August 2019, Carolina Charter Academy (CCA) located in rural Harnett county, opened its doors offering an integrated STEM curriculum for all students. According to the US Department of Education in 2010, while Hispanics accounted for 16% of the U.S. population, they only earned 8% of all certificates and degrees awarded in STEM fields between 2009 and 2010, and accounted for “less than 2 percent of the STEM workforce” (US Dept. of Ed.). Given that 8.6% of the county’s population speaks Spanish (World Population Review, 2022), the school recognized the importance of an intentional outreach effort to the local Hispanic community to make them aware of CCA’s STEM programming.
In order to effectively reach the Hispanic community, CCA leadership utilized NC ACCESS funds to hire a part-time Spanish speaking parent liaison (PL) and a part-time marketing strategist. These hires were made in conjunction with the newly implemented weighted lottery, during the 2021-22 school year. The PL was a member of the CCA community, serving as a teacher assistant, so she was already familiar with the families at the school and was well connected with Hispanic families in the school’s service area. One of her first priorities was to provide translation services and in person support for Spanish speaking parents as they completed the application process. She also provided translation during parent conferences so parents were able to fully participate in their child’s education. Her assistance has become so vital that the school plans to expand her role next year. With her support, the school will be able to offer more events that will strengthen the school community and relationships between school and home. In the future, the school plans to host a breakfast for current families to share their input and brainstorm school improvements. The PL will be an integral part of Hispanic Heritage month and she will participate in Open House to help explain the school curriculum to families. Additionally, they are planning a school-wide Field Day and inviting parents to observe and volunteer. Potential community outreach ideas include a community fun run and a fall festival. These events would welcome community members outside the school family and familiarize them with the school’s offerings. The parent liaison will play a significant role in ensuring these events are culturally sensitive and linguistically accessible for Spanish speaking families.
The marketing strategist currently has children enrolled at CCA and is already an active part of the CCA community. Using her background in advertising, she has improved the school's website to ensure it is both visually appealing and informative. The website is also fully translated into Spanish for families who do not read English. Her other responsibilities include sending newsletters to all existing families, managing the school’s social media account, and developing content to be shared with families that will be joining the school community next year. In an effort to introduce new families to the school and its opportunities for their child(ren), she sends mailers to families in the Angier and Fuquay- Varina communities. Each of these strategies promotes positive relationships with families and establishes a culture of trust and open communication.
Results
During the 2021-22 school year, CCA reported 43 students (nearly 7% of the student population) receiving EL services based on enrollment form data. They anticipate up to 27 additional students utilizing these services in the 2022-23 school year.
During the first year of the weighted lottery, the school filled the 15% of seats reserved for Educationally Disadvantaged students.
Challenges
The inability to hold in-person events has been a significant challenge to the school since it opened its doors just before the COVID pandemic. Now that people are once again able to gather, the school will begin welcoming volunteers and visitors into the school. The parent liaison will play a critical role in helping Hispanic families feel connected during these events.
Future Modifications
CCA plans to increase outreach opportunities, such as parent information sessions and community events. Having materials translated into Spanish and Spanish speaking staff available to engage families during these events will increase accessibility for Hispanic families.
During the second year of the weighted lottery process, the school will formally translate the application and provide established office hours for families who need assistance and/or language translation services in order to successfully submit an application.
Critical Components
Getting Started
The fact that the Parent Liaison and the marketing expert were both familiar with the school and the local community was critical to their ability to successfully engage with families who were exploring CCA as an educational option for their child(ren).
Ongoing Supports
Ensuring that the entire school community knows the school’s missions and aligns all initiatives and decision making with this mission is important to the long term success of the school. The expanded role of the PL allows for an ongoing intentional focus on the Spanish speaking community and the support needed for equitable access by these families.
Equity Connections
“Hispanics represent the largest minority group with measured interests in STEM fields, creating a significant opportunity going forward.” (US Dept of Ed) However, there is still a disparity in the percentage of Hispanics graduating with STEM related degrees. While Hispanics face barriers similar to other underrepresented minorities, they often face an additional challenge of a language barrier. CCA’s efforts to connect with families in their service area will create a local pipeline of Hispanic students with a strong background in STEM at a young age.
Research
1. U.S. Department of Education. (n.d.) “Hispanics and STEM Education”. Retrieved from: https://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/list/hispanic-initiative/stem-factsheet.pdf
2. United States Census Bureau, “Quick Facts North Carolina”. Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/NC/PST045219
3. World Population Review. Harnett County, North Carolina Population 2022. Retrieved from https://worldpopulationreview.com/us-counties/nc/harnett-county-populationhttps://worldpopulationreview.com/us-counties/nc/harnett-county-population
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