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EO 13555Executive OrderObama · D

Executive Order 13555

White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics

This executive order establishes the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics within the Department of Education, along with a Federal Interagency Working Group and a 30-member Presidential Advisory Commission. It creates a coordinated federal structure to expand educational opportunities and improve outcomes for Hispanic students from early childhood through higher education and adult learning, with specific objectives including increasing kindergarten readiness, reducing dropout rates, improving college completion, and strengthening Hispanic-Serving Institutions.

Federal Register Open PDF 75 FR 65417

Impact dates

  1. Commission meetings at least twice per year ongoing

  2. Executive Director appointment by Secretary of Education

  3. Periodic publication of Initiative reports

  4. President appointment of Commission members and Chair designation

  5. Senior officials designated to Working Group by department/agency heads

Key directives

  • Establish Initiative in Department of Education with Executive Director appointed by Secretary
  • Create Interagency Working Group with senior officials from Education, Domestic Policy Council, Labor, HHS, and other designated agencies
  • Establish up to 30-member Presidential Advisory Commission with Chair designated by President
  • Commission must meet at least twice per year
  • Initiative shall periodically publish reports on activities
  • Secretary and Executive Director may develop and submit recommendations to President
  • Department shall provide staff, resources, and assistance for Initiative and Working Group
  • Working Group agencies shall provide resources including personnel details to assist Department
  • Executive Director administers both Initiative and Commission
  • Supersede prior EO 13230

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Establishment of White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics in Department of Education
  • Establishment of Federal Interagency Working Group
  • Establishment of President's Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics
  • Supersession of Executive Order 13230 (2001)

Near term (90d)

  • Appointment of Executive Director by Secretary of Education
  • Designation of senior officials to Working Group by department/agency heads
  • President appointment of up to 30 Commission members and designation of Chair
  • Establishment of Working Group subgroups on specific educational challenges

Long term

  • Periodic publication of Initiative activity reports
  • Development and submission of recommendations to President for short- and long-term initiatives
  • Commission meetings at least twice yearly ongoing
  • Implementation of objectives across early childhood through adult education systems
  • Building national network for best practices sharing
  • Partnership development with public, private, philanthropic, and nonprofit stakeholders

Risks & tensions

  • No dedicated funding appropriation specified; relies on existing department resources and 'to the extent permitted by law' contributions from other agencies
  • Advisory Commission structure may produce recommendations without binding authority on agencies
  • Multiple overlapping White House initiatives (Hispanics, HBCUs, Tribal Colleges, AAPI) require coordination to avoid competition for attention and resources
  • Ambitious 2020 college graduation goal referenced but not tied to specific accountability mechanism
  • 'To the extent permitted by law' language creates uncertainty about interagency resource commitments
  • No explicit performance metrics or evaluation framework mandated in order text
Executive Order 13555: White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics · Executive Orders