Ensuring that everyone in our society has the ability to speak the same language and take advantage of the opportunities this skill affords should not be a partisan issue.

Washington feels more Latinized every day. The region’s Latino population rose 73 percent between 2000 and 2010, from 408,885 to 709,193. Yet, research shows that most grandchildren of Latino immigrants will sound like gringos.

Educators have long expressed concern about achievement gaps drawn along racial and socioeconomic lines, but they're not the only ones who notice. Students themselves are troubled by the disparity between white and Hispanic student performance and are trying to turn things around.