...Presents basic information about Latino students in Massachusetts public schools; includes enrollment, achievements, dropout data, MCAS test results and after high school plans of Latino graduates...

... Latino children's opportunities for equal education are hampered by many factors, which are highlighted in this document ...

Following its rapid growth over the past twenty years, the Latino population of Massachusetts is now the largest racial and ethnic minority group in the state. It is also one of the poorest. During the "Massachusetts Miracle" of the 1980s, the Latino poverty rate in the commonwealth was twice that of blacks and six times that of whites. And with Latino children dropping out of school at a rate three times that of white children, the economic future of these young adults is bleak indeed. Unlike blacks--who are concentrated in Boston--Latinos are dispersed geographically throughout the state. This distribution, combined with their limited economic and political power, has made Latinos victims of public indifference and neglect. This volume and its companion, Latino Poverty and Economic Development in Massachusetts, edited by Edwin Melendez and Miren Uriarte, are designed to educate policymakers and other concerned individuals about the particular needs of Latinos in Massachusetts. They address issues of education and economic development and suggest strategies to facilitate Latino empowerment in ways that preserve ethnic identity, language, and cultural expression.

This watershed volume brings together the foremost leading authorities and scholars lending their individual voices to a single, urgent issue: literacy for Latino students. In a departure from traditional paradigms, Latinos examine their own lived experiences in U.S. schools and offer sound theories born from positions of expertise and first-hand knowledge as researchers and educators. Their discussions and critical perspectives on literacy for Latino students in grades K–12 touch on the important topics of: Encouraging biliteracy in the classroomConstructing theories of possibilityPromoting critically literate youthOrganizing teaching and learning to students’ potentialLinking literacy to lived experiencesAs insiders in Spanish-speaking communities that are often maligned for their children’s alleged “failure” in schools, these authors offer hope for children’s academic potential as well as evidence showing that integration of native language and culture in supportive learning environments can lead to success in literacy in two languages. Contributors: Alma Flor Ada, Héctor H. Alvarez, María V. Balderrama, Patricia Baquedano-López, Lilia I. Bartolomé, María Echiburu Berzins, Esteban Díaz, Bárbara Flores, María E. Fránquiz, Kris D. Gutiérrez, Bobbi Ciriza Houtchens, Robert T. Jiménez, Eloise Andrade Laliberty, Alice E. López, Roberta Maldonado, Carmen I. Mercado, Luis C. Moll, Rosa Zubizarreta “In this illuminating volume, the authors courageously challenge the assumption of a skill-based English-only literacy for Latinos. By shifting the literacy debate to a sociocultural terrain, they urge readers to confront the prevailing issues of racism, classism, gender, and economic deprivation that characterize the literacy of Latino/Latina students in the U.S. public schools. Simply put, this volume provides readers with the necessary political clarity to understand and appreciate what it means to be literate in the changing multilingual and multicultural world of the 21st century.” —Donaldo Macedo, Distinguished Professor of Liberal Arts and Education, University of Massachusetts, Boston

Drawing on both extensive demographic data and compelling case studies, this book reveals the depths of the educational crisis looming for Latino students, the nation's largest and most rapidly growing minority group.

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.