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.

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

...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...

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.

In 2009, Excelencia in Education launched the Ensuring America's Future initiative to inform, organize, and engage leaders in a tactical plan to increase Latino college completion. An executive summary of Latino College Completion in 50 states synthesizes information on 50 state factsheets and builds on the national benchmarking guide. Each factsheet provides state level snapshots about Latinos in the educational pipeline and the equity gap between Latinos and White non-Hispanics in achievement. Additionally, examples of how evidence-based practices improve Latino college completion at institutions of higher education are provided. Highlights from Massachusetts' fact sheet include: (1) Massachusetts had the 16th largest Latino population in the U.S.; (2) In Massachusetts, 15% of the K-12 population was Latino; (3) In Massachusetts, 10% of the state population was Latino. (Projections show a continued increase.); (4) The median age of Latinos in Massachusetts was 26, compared to 41 for White non-Hispanics; and (5) In Massachusetts, 23% of Latino adults (25 to 64 years old) had earned an associate degree or higher, compared to 51% of all adults. (Contains 5 footnotes.) [For the executive summary, see ED532055. For the National Fact Sheet, see ED532060.].

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.

"This study explores what factors influence Latino students' educational attainment from the perspective of former high school graduates and dropouts.... This research draws conclusions on ways to improve Lawrence's youth development practices in hopes of counteracting the city's high dropout rate."--