DENVER

Education is a key issue to Hispanic Americans, according to a preliminary report released at the Democratic National Convention by groups hoping to bring attention to the concerns of the nation’s fastest-growing minority.

The report, "The State of Latinos 2008: Defining an Agenda for the Future," calls for the creation a presidential advisory commission to propose solutions to the most pressing issues affecting Hispanic residents of the United States.

The full report, commissioned by Azteca America, a Spanish-language TV network, and Fundacion Azteca America and produced by the University of

Denver’s Latino Center for Community Engagement and Scholarship (DULCCES), includes policy recommendations for the next Presidential administration and Congress. It will be presented to members of Congress during a televised forum in Washington, D.C.  on September 23.

"We're looking forward to presenting the findings and policy recommendations to the camps of both Republican and Democratic candidates, as well as to key members of Congress and other policy makers in September," said Luis J. Echarte, chairman of Azteca America and Fundacion Azteca America. "A stronger Latino community means a stronger nation as a whole. It's time to take the next step from diagnosis to action."

The report focuses on five issues of importance to the Latino community: education, health care, the economy, immigration and the Latino vote, the group said.

Among the general findings, the authors said, were that Latino communities want to be self-sufficient and contribute to the U.S. society but  face major challenges in accessing quality education, health care, and economic services. The study found that a lack of comprehensive immigration reform widened disparities and limited the future progress of the Latino community and the nation.

Echarte said the network and foundation commissioned the study because "the issue of immigration is very important, but it's not the only issue that concerns the Latino community."