English only? AP-Univision poll finds Latinos often have trouble helping their kids in school

Poll: Language a barrier for Latinos in schools

WASHINGTON — An Associated Press-Univision poll finds many Latino parents have a hard time helping their children with homework or communicating with U.S. teachers as English-immersion classes become widespread in K-12 schools.

The poll says just 20 percent of mainly Spanish-speaking parents say they are able to communicate “extremely well” with their child’s school, compared with 35 percent of Hispanics who speak English fluently.

About 42 percent of the Spanish speakers say it’s easy for them to help with their children’s schoolwork, compared with 59 percent of Hispanics who mostly speak English.

The findings raise questions about whether English-immersion does more to assimilate or isolate. Hispanics are nearly three times more likely than the general U.S. population to drop out of high school.