advocacy
Celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the achievements and contributions of Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States.
California has been home to communities of Asian heritage since before its entrance into the United States in 1850. According to 2010 U.S. Census figures, the largest populations of Samoan, Guamanian or Chamorro, Fijian, Tongan and Palauan Americans in the nation reside in our state. In addition, the Golden State contains the most substantial population of Native Hawaiians outside of Hawaii and notable Hmong, Laotian and Cambodian communities, among others.

This month also provides school board members and others in the educational community with a reminder to review the demographic and achievement data of these diverse student groups in order to provide the support needed to ensure achievement for all students. While the California Department of Education reports data for Asian, Filipino and Pacific Islander students separately, districts and county offices of education should review disaggregated data, where available, to ensure that opportunity gaps are not masked. For example, while the achievement of Asian students might be high overall, these students include Cambodian, Laotian and Hmong students, who have been historically underserved.

Enrollment Trends
Of the 6.2 million K-12 students who attend California public schools, 9 percent are Asian, 2.5 percent are Filipino and 0.5 percent are Pacific Islander. This student population is diverse and composed of students from many cultural backgrounds:

  • 559,159 students are Asian, including Asian Indian, Cambodian, Chinese, Hmong, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, and Vietnamese students;
  • 153,670 students are Filipino; and
  • 29,384 students are Pacific Islander, including Guamanian, Hawaiian, Samoan, and Tahitian students.
Socioeconomic and Language Status
When looking at specific demographics of Asian, Filipino and Pacific Islander students, there are multiple factors that contribute to their educational attainment such as their socioeconomic, English learner and special education status.
  • Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders represent a diverse group of students with widely differing academic outcomes
  • Disaggregating large data sets from these groups helps to identify where supports are needed
Given the diverse background of these students, averages can hide significant differences. For example, according to CSBA analysis of the most recent data available from the CDE, while roughly one-third of Asian and Filipino students are socioeconomically disadvantaged (well below the statewide average of 59.8 percent), there are students included in the Asian group, such as Cambodian, Laotian and Hmong students, that have among the highest poverty rates in California. In addition, a higher percentage of Pacific Islander students are socioeconomically disadvantaged (63.9 percent). Within the Pacific Islander group, there can be populations, such as Samoan students, that are at a larger disadvantage.
Many Asian, Filipino and Pacific Islander students also come from households where a language other than English is spoken at home. Vietnamese, Mandarin (Putonghua) and Filipino (Pilipino or Tagalog) are among the languages spoken by 50,000 or more students at home. While bilingualism is an asset that will benefit students in college, career and life, it also means that students and families might need special instruction and services that can allow them to fully participate in school.
Academic Achievement
The 2016–17 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress results in math and English language arts reveal significant differences in the achievement levels of Asian, Filipino, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students. (CAASP reports data for “Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students” while enrollment data from the California Department of Education reports on “Pacific Islander students,” which includes Native Hawaiian students.)

CAASPP Results: Math

  • 72.7 percent of Asian students met or exceeded grade-level standards;
  • 57.1 percent of Filipino students met or exceeded grade-level standards; and
  • 31.2 percent of Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students met or exceeded grade-level standards.

CAASPP Results: English language arts

  • 75.5 percent of Asian students met or exceeded grade-level standards;
  • 70.2 percent of Filipino students met or exceeded grade-level standards; and
  • 42 percent of Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students met or exceeded grade-level standards.

In order to better understand the experiences of and advocate for Asian and Pacific students, visit blog.csba.org/AAPI-month. A CSBA governance brief on Asian, Filipino and Pacific Islander students is also available at csba.org/GovernanceAndPolicyResources.

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