About PALMS
A recent report by the Education Commission of the States1 reveals that, among those of eligible age, only 15% of the Latino population earns a postsecondary degree, and an astounding 48% have less than a high school credential. The PALMS (Postsecondary Access for Latino Middle-grades Students) project was created in response to this crisis in educational attainment.
We focus on the middle grades—which serve youth ages 10 to 14—because it is during this time that students make choices and develop the knowledge and skills that can take them through high school and beyond. For students who are the first in their families to attend college, early planning and preparation is especially important.
PALMS is a partnership between Education Development Center (EDC), LULAC National Educational Service Centers (LNESC), and the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform. Our work began in September 2004 thanks to the generous support of Lumina Foundation for Education. The goal of the project is to increase the number of Latinos that pursue an education beyond high school.
To achieve our goal, we develop practical, research-based resources to assist practitioners in their efforts to promote Latino postsecondary enrollment. We aim to impact the work of secondary schools, college access programs, and community-based organizations that serve Latino students and their families. PALMS provides the following resources:
- PALMS Website
- The PALMS website is a resource for college access professionals, secondary school leaders,
education grant makers, and other individuals with a stake in the success of Latino students.
The site aims to communicate clear and concise information about practices that promote Latino
postsecondary attainment. In July 2005, we published the findings of the PALMS Parent Outreach Study
in the Reaching Parents section. This section of the website features information
on what practitioners across the country are doing to help Latino parents prepare their children for
college. In July 2006, we published the findings of our research on best practices for motivating
and supporting Latino students in their pursuit of postsecondary education in our Working with Students section..
- PALMS Toolkit for School Leaders
- Administrators and teachers approached PALMS staff looking for practical suggestions and materials to help them reach out to the Latino families in their schools. In response to this need, our team developed Tools for Latino Family Outreach: Supporting Student Success in the Middle Grades and Beyond, a comprehensive resource aimed at leaders of schools with grades 6-8. The toolkit translates the parent outreach strategies presented on this website into concrete guidelines and tools that schools can put to use right away. We provide relevant, field-tested materials that school personnel can use to launch or strengthen an outreach program tailored to their school and community.
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1. Sandra S. Ruppert, Closing the College Participation Gap: A National Summary. (Denver, CO: Education Commission of the States, October 2003), p. 8c.
