ExecutiveOrdersEO
EO 12900Executive OrderClinton · D

Executive Order 12900

Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans

EducationEducationFederal WorkforceFederal WorkforceCivil RightsCivil Rights

In simple terms

This executive order establishes the President's Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans and a White House Initiative within the Department of Education to improve Hispanic American participation in and outcomes from federal education programs. It requires annual federal plans with measurable objectives, agency-specific plans to reduce barriers and improve outreach, and creates an interagency working group to coordinate efforts across executive departments.

Federal Register 59 FR 9061
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Record & deadlines

  1. Signed

    Signed by the President

  2. FR published

    Published in the Federal Register · 59 FR 9061

    Federal Register

  3. Agency plans submitted to Secretary

  4. Annual Federal Plan to President

Key directives

  • Establish President's Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans (≤25 members) in Department of Education
  • Establish White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans as interagency working group headed by senior federal official
  • Each Executive department and designated agency must appoint senior official as liaison to Commission and Initiative
  • Secretary shall submit Annual Federal Plan to Promote Hispanic American Educational Excellence
  • Each agency shall prepare annual plan with measurable objectives for increasing Hispanic American participation where underserved
  • Agency plans must assess prior year performance after first year
  • OPM shall develop program to promote recruitment of Hispanic students for federal positions (part-time, summer, permanent)
  • Revoke Executive Order 12729

Who is ordered

Prior policy

  • revokeExecutive Order No. 12729

Related orders

What to expect

Immediate

  • Establishment of Commission and White House Initiative in Department of Education
  • Revocation of Executive Order 12729
  • Appointment of senior agency liaisons required

Near term (90d)

  • Agency plans due to Secretary (date to be established by Secretary)
  • Development of OPM recruitment program for Hispanic students

Long term

  • Annual Federal Plan submissions continuing indefinitely
  • Ongoing agency performance assessments against prior year goals
  • Sustained interagency coordination through Initiative

Risks & tensions

  • No hard calendar deadlines specified; Secretary determines submission date for agency plans, creating implementation uncertainty
  • 'To the extent permitted by law' and 'to the extent practicable' qualifiers throughout may limit enforceability of agency cooperation
  • 25% Hispanic student population threshold for 'Hispanic-serving' designation may be contested or create boundary incentives
  • Annual plan requirement creates ongoing bureaucratic obligation but no sunset or review mechanism specified
  • Funding dependence on Department of Education may constrain Initiative and Commission capacity
Executive Order 12900: Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans · Executive Orders