The Hispanic Health Council’s mission is to promote equity and eliminate health disparities affecting Hispanics, Latinos, and other vulnerable communities through research, advocacy, and culturally responsive services. Our priority is to ensure that all communities have the opportunity to achieve their highest level of health and well-being.
One group we work closely with is Hispanic/Latino immigrant youth. We offer a range of youth programs designed to support academic success, introduce STEM pathways, and help students overcome barriers in the education system. We also provide after-school programs at Maria Sanchez School to extend learning and enrichment opportunities beyond the classroom.
Literacy is a fundamental right and a cornerstone of opportunity. We are deeply concerned by the persistent issue of illiteracy among youth. Too many students are navigating a school system that does not fully meet their diverse needs, leaving them without the foundational literacy skills necessary for long-term success.
According to the 2023 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), only 31% of Connecticut’s fourth graders are reading at or above proficiency levels—underscoring a statewide literacy crisis that is especially pronounced in low-income and multilingual communities.
These numbers reflect deep disparities and highlight the urgent need for a more equitable, culturally responsive approach to early literacy instruction across the state.
Young people face a range of barriers—under-resourced schools, limited academic support, and systemic inequities—that hinder their ability to thrive. For students who speak a language other than English at home, these challenges are often compounded by the expectation that they will acquire English proficiency through an under-resourced school system.
Every child, no matter what their background or circumstances, deserves the support to build the literacy skills that serve as the foundation for lifelong learning and success.
We understand that Hartford Public Schools has faced severe budget cuts this past year and has lost support staff. Even with budget cuts, schools must prioritize teaching essential skills like reading and writing. No child should leave a Connecticut school unable to read or write proficiently; literacy is not optional.
Schools serve children with a wide range of unique needs, and meeting those needs requires a strong foundation in essential learning. Investing in early literacy instruction, culturally responsive curriculum, and qualified support personnel is not a luxury—it is a necessity for the success of our children and the future of our communities.
While we recognize the complexity of addressing diverse student needs, schools have a responsibility to rise to the challenge. Community organizations like ours are here to support these efforts, but the primary role in advancing educational equity and readiness belongs to our school systems.
The Hispanic Health Council provides evidence-based services that support youth education, including tutoring and academic enrichment, as well as addressing broader factors that influence learning—like health, family stability, and access to resources. These services are meant to complement, not replace, a strong educational curriculum. Schools must remain focused on ensuring all students are academically prepared to achieve their full potential.
With the goal of providing even more supportive services, the Hispanic Health Council has initiated conversation with key education leaders to address the gaps in Connecticut education systems. We recently met with the commissioner of Education and while we appreciate the ongoing efforts, we believe that more must be done to effectively address the literacy challenges facing students in Hartford Public Schools.
To date, the superintendent of Hartford never followed up with the Hispanic Health Council’s meeting request, which we consider worrisome given the state of education in Connecticut.
Our goal is to equip our students to achieve their dreams and contribute to the strength and success of our great state through their future work. But we cannot do this alone. Our school systems and educational leaders need to be more responsive to student needs and should form more robust plans to combat barriers to literacy within our school systems. The status quo is failing our students. It’s time to act with urgency, invest in real solutions, and ensure every student has the opportunity to thrive.
Ken Barela, a Hartford resident and CEO of the Hispanic Health Council, has more than 35 years of leadership in the nonprofit, healthcare, and human services sectors.
