Secretary of Education Lauro F. Cavazos last week named Gilbert D. Roman, an official in the department’s office for civil rights, to head the Bush Administration’s Hispanic-education initiative.
The heart of the initiative, launched last month by an executive order, is an Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans. The panel, which is to consist of education, business, and civic leaders will advise Mr. Cavazos on the status of Hispanic education.
Mr. Roman said he would work with representatives from other agencies to draft “a plan of action.”
Mr. Cavazos said Mr. Roman would also work on related initiatives endorsed by the President, such as working with states to create a special diploma for migrant students, promoting alternative certification of bilingual teachers, and increasing federal programs’ emphasis on parental involvement and early aid for children with limited English proficiency.
Mr. Cavazos acknowledged, that such efforts would involve changes in regulations and statutes in some cases. For example, he said he would propose amending the Bilingual Education Act to allow funding of preschool English instruction.
Mr. Roman has been the o.c.r.'s deputy assistant secretary for operations since January, a post he held in an acting capacity for 16 months in 1986 and 1987. He previously served for about nine years as director of the civil-rights branch’s Denver office, following two years in the same post under the old Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.
