Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/389203
AEA Advocate x Special Election Edition 2014 13 and learning a new language, but you just have to keep trying because you will learn the language and you will learn quickly. As a state legislator, I promise to do whatever I can for education to educate everyone, not just a select few. Everyone here in this room and everyone who comes to the United States from another country deserves to learn and be educated." Recently, there has been much press coverage of the influx of refugee children. Jimenez believes the media has blown it out of proportion and states that Arizona has always accepted refugee children and it isn't anything new. The Arizona Refugee Resettlement Agency reports 1,875 arrivals as of May 2014. Last year Arizona resettled 3,600 refugees and in past years has seen numbers as high as 4,000, so the numbers do not show any significant increase. However, demographics of the arrivals have changed. This year saw an increase in the number of refugees from Central America. Jimenez worries all the media attention will impact the program and funding. "When they cut funding, they're saying those kids are not worth the money, but really it will cost the state more not to invest in these kids because of the lost potential and opportunity in having an educated multi-cultural workforce contributing to our economy and community." Federal law requires the education of all children, regardless of immigration status. The Arizona Education Association, in following its mission, Keeping the Promise of Quality Public Education, believes all children who enter our public schools deserve a free, quality education, no matter where they came from, what language they speak, or where they call home. Phoenix Union High School District takes that mission a step further with this program and they are also one of the only high school districts to accept refugee students over the age of 18, even though it negatively impacts their graduation rate and school ranking. "If you come here at 18 without any command of the language, you're not going to be able to get a job," says Jimenez. "We should give them some kind of a chance and provide them opportunity to learn the language for a year." Jimenez is looking forward to next summer and working with the new incoming refugee children. She still keeps in touch with many of the students who have come through the program. "I'm honored to teach them, these kids are more likely to stay and become contributing members of the community because they are so appreciative." 2 "Everyone here in this room and everyone who comes to the United States from another country deserves to learn and be educated." — Representative Lupe Contreras of Legislative District 19 Vanessa Jimenez, Rep. Lupe Contreras, and AEA lobbyist Jennifer Loredo speak to refugee students at Central High School.