KIPP Texas Public Schools is proud to join our nation in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 – October 15! This annual celebration honors the history, cultures, and contributions of U.S. Hispanic and Latine communities to American society, including those whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988.
The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively.
Today, over 60 million people, or 18.5 percent of the American population, are of Hispanic or Latine origin! Modeling the trends of our nation, our schools are proud to serve more Hispanic/Latine students than ever before.
“With over 22,800 students and their families identifying as Hispanic or Latine, 68% of our student body, let’s celebrate and share the beautiful culture of Spanish-speaking countries and the contributions and accomplishments of our Latine-American KIPPsters,” said Sehba Ali, CEO of KIPP Texas Public Schools.
As we kick off this important time, campuses across our regions are teaching lessons and holding events in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. Be sure to check out KIPP Texas’ social media channels as we document the amazing happenings taking place across our campuses to educate, celebrate, and reflect upon Hispanic history and heritage.