One of my earliest memories is that of my father taking the oath to become a U.S. citizen. I remember the crowded, steamy courthouse, the dozens of new Americans in their finest suits and dresses, the happy families there to celebrate, and the eclectic stew of languages and accents that filled the room.

My dad’s journey from Peru to the Bronx to that moment of swearing his allegiance to his adoptive country was complicated and, in its own way, unique. He chose a path that he thought offered greater political freedom and economic opportunity: a place where he could craft a better future. For my dad, and for so many immigrants like him — and for the families they build here — education is a cornerstone, an essential ingredient for achieving the futures they envision. Unfortunately, in too many parts of our country, there aren’t enough great schools, and the great schools are often not accessible to the students who need them most.

As Marie Arana describes in “LatinoLand: A Portrait of America’s Largest and Least Understood Minority,” the Latino community in the United States is as diverse as it is rich — rich in history, culture and hope, if not always in capital. It’s a community with so much to offer and also has significant needs. And it’s a community that has been welcomed and is thriving in our nation’s charter schools. From Miami to New York City, Washington to Houston, and in towns and cities nationwide, high-quality charter schools excel at serving Latino students and their families.

Latino students now represent a significant part of the student body in the United States. Over the last five years, we have witnessed explosive growth in Latino student enrollment in our charter schools, increasing by nearly 19 percent and more than 200,000 students. One in three charter school students is now Latino, and these students are defining the future of public education. In turn, charter schools are shaping the fastest-growing demographic in America, enabling the better future to which they and their parents aspire.

Charter schools have fulfilled their promise most significantly for Latino families and communities of color. These unique public schools have leveraged their freedom to innovate and pilot new methods and deliver a high-quality education to more than a million Latinos. 

To meet their community’s needs, they’ve developed novel parent engagement approaches, introduced challenging coursework and bilingual programs, and set high expectations while providing equally high levels of support. In doing so, charter schools are creating an empowered American citizenry, boosting high school completion rates, creating pathways to college and career, and breaking the link between difficult economic circumstances and barriers to learning. 

Charter schools are unlocking the generational potential of Latino students, ensuring they are well-educated and possess the critical thinking skills and resources to command the levers of power and influence in the world.

Notably, more charter schools are led by talented Latino educators who have dared to confront what has not been working for their families and who have built school communities that strive for excellence.

Daniela Anello, the head of the D.C. Bilingual Public Charter School, has led her school to be ranked among the top three elementary charters in the District of Columbia. She was named a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. In Albuquerque’s South Valley, Jade Rivera founded and led Albuquerque Collegiate Charter School, which ranks in the top 5 percent in New Mexico for literacy growth and proficiency. In California, Daniel Moreno directs STEM Preparatory Schools, fostering a K-12 pipeline that empowers Los Angeles Latino students to pursue STEM careers with confidence. These Latino education leaders inspire their students and all of us.

As I reflect on the legacy of Latino immigration into the United States and the millions of Latino Americans who are and will be leading this country into the future, I am reinvigorated to continue the work to provide public education options that honor the dreams of my father and so many others who dared to hope for a better life, who staked their futures on hard work, and whose commitment and sacrifice demands more innovative, responsive and excellent educational environments.