Southeast Asian Americans & the Education Gap

Photo, cover of Asian Americans in Washington State: Closing Their Hidden Achievement Gaps, by Shirley Hune & David Takeuchi, CAPPA, 2008. Available at www.capaa.wa.gov

By: Ay Saechao & Bopha Cheng & Southeast Asian American Access in Education Coalition (SEAeD)

Learning Outcomes
To gain understanding Southeast Asian American experience from a historical U.S. context To learn about sub-Asian groups and understand impact on education To dialogue about different ethnic experiences in college

Who are Southeast Asian Americans?

Cambodia
Cham, Khmer, Khmer Loeu

Laos
Hmong, Iu Mien, Khmu, Lao

Vietnam
Khmer, Montagnards, Vietnamese

Burma
Karen, Chin

Recognition of Bhutanese Refugees

Bhutan
Drokpas,, Lhotsampa

Southeast Asian American Experience in Historical US Context

Majority are recent Americans (1970s Present) Refugees involuntary immigrants
Many refugees experienced war trauma Children struggle to with bi-cultural identity and educational institutions unfamiliar to their needs

Seek a better life in the United States Limited access in Education in the homeland Struggle to adapt to life in the U.S.
Economical Social Educational

Southeast Asian Americans Experience in College

First Generation Low-income Language Identity Access to resources and services Limited K-20 pipeline College readiness

http://www.searac.org/sites/default/files/SEARAC_Fact_Sheet s_ACCESS_FINAL.pdf

What is the Education Gap?

the difference in academic performance between different ethnic groups
As defined by the US Department of Education cited from, http://www.sedl.org/gap/gap.html

Pair Up and Share Up

What other issues affect the educational gap? What are some systems or structures that served as opportunities or barriers for you to go to college? Why did you choose to go to college? What is your college experience like so far?

Washington Trends
In S. Hune & D. Takeuchi, Asian Americans in Washington State, 2008. p. (15,).

In S. Hune & D. Takeuchi, Asian Americans in Washington State, 2008. p. (25).

Sub-Asian Groups in Education

Mis-Representation in Education

http://www.roadmapproject. org/wpcontent/uploads/2013/12/D ec-2013-ERNPresentation.pdf

http://www.wsac.wa.go v/sites/default/files/KF2 012ChapterIV.pdf

Implications
There is no singular Asian American experience Aggregating educational trends for all Asian Americans is problematic and inaccurate
Essentializes the diverse experiences of Asian Americans Perpetuates stereotypes: Asian Americans as homogeous Neglects educational gaps of Southeast Asian Americans

Research and Policy makers for equity and access in higher education
Collect disaggregated data by Asian American ethnic subgroups Create policy & programming to address these alarming gaps

References
College Entrance Examination Board (1999). Reaching the Top: A Report of the Natinoal Task Force on Minority High Achievement. New York, NY: CEEB. Hacker, A. (1992). Two nations: Black and white, separate, hostile, unequal. New York: Scribner's. Hune, S., Takeuchi, D., University of Washington., Washington (State)., & Washington State Library. (2008). Asian Americans in Washington State: Closing their hidden achievement gaps. Seattle, WA: University of Washington. National Commission on Asian American and Pacific Islander Research (2011). The Relevance of Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders in the College Completion Agenda. New York, NY: CARE.

Thanks for Coming!

Contact: Bopha Cheng Affiliation: SEAeD, Community Program Specialist
Email: chengb1@seattleu.edu or bcheng@highline.edu LOOK OUT FOR OUR SUMMIT IN THE FALL!