Latino Students In American Schools

The purpose of this book is to provide a comprehensive historical and contemporary view of the education of Latinos in the United States. It is unique in that it provides readers with accurate information that will deepen their understanding and knowledge about Latinos from preschool to higher education, as well as in special education, gifted education, and migrant and urban education. Topics such as bilingualism and teacher preparation are an integral part of this thorough and eloquent book. Among culturally and linguistically diverse groups in the United States, the Latino population is the largest and fastest growing. Thus, to prepare for the growing numbers of Latino children and to make the most of their education, educators, researchers, and policymakers must recognize and build on the invaluable resource represented by Latino students. The information provided is based on current research and practice in the field. Our school system continues to underestimate the cognitive and socioemotional potential of Latino students by its limited awareness and representation of the Latino cultural characteristics, social dynamics, interests and abilities, bilingualism, as well as confronting socioeconomic challenges and educational needs. This situation clearly demonstrates a need for a reformulation of educational practice at all grade levels and for the provision of accurate information to assist practitioners and researchers in their knowledge and practice.

High-Achieving Latino Students: Successful Pathways Toward College and Beyond addresses a long-standing need for a book that focuses on the success, not failure, of Latino students. While much of the existing research works from a deficit lens, this book uses a strength-based approach to support Latino achievement. Bringing together researchers and practitioners, this unique book provides research-based recommendations from early to later school years on “what works” for supporting high achievement. Praise for High-Achieving Latino Students "This book focuses on an important issue about which we know little. There are many lessons here for both scholars and educators who believe that Latino students can succeed. I congratulate the authors for taking on this timely and significant topic." ~ Guadalupe Valdés, Ph.D., Bonnie Katz Tenenbaum Professor in Education, Stanford University. Author of Con Respeto: Bridging the Distances Between Culturally Diverse Families and Schools "This is a must-read book for leaders in institutions of both K-12 and higher education who want to better understand success factors of Latino students in the US. Using a strength-based framework to understand and support Latino achievement is a new paradigm that must be considered by all." ~ Loui Olivas, Ed.D., President, American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education "In addition to being the right book at the right time, these editors should be congratulated for giving us a stellar example of how a research-practice collaboration comes together to produce such a valuable and lasting contribution to the field of school reform and improvement. Those who work in schools, universities, think tanks and policymaking centers have been waiting anxiously for this kind of book, and it’s now here." ~ Carl A. Cohn, Ed.D., Former Executive Director, California Collaborative for Educational Excellence, CA State Board of Education member, and Superintendent "There may not be a silver bullet for solving the so-called problem of Latino underachievement, but well-conceived solutions do exist. This powerful book offers strength- and asset-based frameworks that demonstrate Latino achievement is possible. Read this text to not only get informed, but to also get nurtured and inspired!" ~ Angela Valenzuela, Ph.D., Professor in Education, University of Texas at Austin. Author of Subtractive Schooling: US-Mexican Youth and the Politics of Caring

Based on the work of real leaders and educators in high-performing, urban schools across the country, this book unpacks five key practices that are integral to improving achievement and postsecondary outcomes for Latino students. These inspiring stories affirm that excellence and equity are possible when educators come together around an important purpose and focus on the needs, strengths, and interests of all their students. Full of specific examples and guidance, each chapter also includes an assessment tool designed to help school leaders reflect upon their current practices, affirm school strengths that resemble the exemplary practices described in the chapters, and help educators pinpoint opportunities to strengthen practices in ways that can improve the postsecondary readiness of their students. This important book will help leaders create a positive school culture, coherent school design, and develop the practices and policies that support Latino students in their performance and help students realize their potential.

Latino (or Hispanic) children are one of the fastest-growing groups in U.S. schools today. On average, these students perform worse than Anglo students on measures of academic achievement and other measures of academic success, and their drop-out rate is high. There are schools of excellence among those serving Latino children, but the majority of these children are placed "at risk" by schools and community institutions unable to build on the cultural, personal, and linguistic strengths these children are likely to bring with them to school. Schools serving Latino students need programs based on high-quality research, capable of being replicated and adapted to local circumstances and needs. The purpose of this book is to present the current state of the art with respect to research on effective instructional programs for Latino students in elementary and secondary grades. Surprisingly, this has not been done before; there are many books on the situation of Latino students in U.S. schools, but none so far have reviewed research on the outcomes of programs designed to enhance the academic achievement of these students. The chapters represent a broad range of methodologies, from experimental to correlational to descriptive, and the solutions they propose are extremely diverse. Each examines, in its own way, programs and practices that are showing success. Together, they present a rich array of research-based effective programs that are practical, widely available, and likely to make a profound difference. What binds the chapters together is a shared belief that Latino students can succeed at the highest levels if they receive the quality of instruction they deserve, and a shared belief that reform of schools serving many Latino students is both possible and essential. This is a book filled with statistics, description, and reviews of research--but even more, it is filled with optimism about what schools for Latino students can be, and what these students will achieve. It is a highly relevant and useful resource for educators, policymakers, and researchers who want to use research to inform the decisions they make about how to help Latino students succeed in elementary and secondary schools, and beyond.

Question 6: Do You Think It Is Important to Teach Latino and Mexican-American Studies? -- "This Question Is Immense"--Question 7: What Kinds of Things Should Be Taught? -- "It Does Not Make Any Difference What Ethnic Group the Teacher Belongs To"--Question 8: Who Should Teach Latino and Mexican-American Studies? Anglos? Latinos? Why? -- "Jumping Through a System of Hoops" -- Question 9: What Does "Education" Mean to You? What Should It Be? Should It Be Different From What It Is? -- "Finding Satisfaction with Your Place in Society" -- Question 10: What Does Success Mean to You? -- "The Availability of Choices" -- Question 11: What Do You Think Are the Most Important Things for a Latino Student to Achieve in Life? -- "They Can Be Their Own Worst Enemy" -- Question 12: What Obstacles Do Latino Students Face in Reaching Their Goals? -- Summary and Conclusions -- For Discussion -- References -- 8 Toward a Self-Definition of Success -- The Politics of Language -- Teacher-Student Interactions -- Mechanisms of Discipline -- School Classroom Instruction -- Interracial Conflict -- Issues of Resistance and Identity -- Summary of the Students' Findings -- Students' and Teachers' Findings -- Concluding Statements -- References -- 9 Conclusion: Students' Concerns and Recommendations for Educational Reform -- Administrative and School Climate Changes -- Students' Recommendations Regarding Discipline Procedures -- Systemic School Reforms -- Students' Recommendations Related to School Reforms -- Transformations in Teacher-Student Interactions -- Concluding Statements -- References -- Epilogue -- Postscript: What Does the 2016 Election Mean for Latinos in the U.S.? -- Appendix -- Glossary -- About the Authors -- Index

"Academic year 2014-15 marked the first year that public school enrollment (preK-12) became majority nonwhite, with the Hispanic/Latino as the largest minority. Significant population shifts have continued to occur, with Latinos now representing 1-in-4 (28%) public school students. Meanwhile, the public schools are in trouble, with international achievement reaching new lows and where progress for nearly two-thirds of all 4th and 8th graders stagnant and below proficiency levels, now decades old. According to the Nation's Report Card, students of color rank lowest, with Latinos and African Americans consistently at the bottom. To understand the history of Latinos in particular, Dr. Noboa-Ríos goes back to recreate the story. Here he relates the dark legacy before and after Plessy, but also upon examining post-Brown challenges that linger. Meanwhile, demography has shifter greatly and the future of the country is now greatly dependent on the academic success of Latino children. Different from the past, this population can no longer be ignored. This is dramatically different from former years, as it represents a new urgency for the nation, one that can no longer be ignored. As the story of education rapidly unfolds, America's challenge is now to ensure Latino students excel or the country is in peril. It is important to understand why and how this has occurred to ensure it is rectified for a better and more balanced future for the nation, not just the Latino population"--