![[PDF]](/pb-assets/Icons/adobe-pdf-icon-1498649896243.png){kind=icon}
Abstract
This article emphasizes the role of parental involvement in the college preparation of Latino elementary and secondary school students. Although literature shows that education is highly valued in Latino families, actual college enrollment rates for Latino youth are below average. This has been attributed to barriers including lack of financial resources, problems in communication with schools, and low familiarity with the college planning process. The American Dream Academy is a university outreach program that is designed to help Latino families overcome these barriers. We conducted a qualitative analysis of speeches that were prepared and delivered by parents at graduation ceremonies of the program from 2007 to 2009. Our analysis revealed six themes: facing challenges, envisioning success, understanding the school system, taking ownership, community raising a child, and creating a supportive home environment. The findings enrich existing literature and help understand the complex systems that are at play with parental involvement in Latino families.
Keywords schools, students, teachers, multi-cultural education, urban education
References
Section:
|
Abrego, L. J. (2006). “I can’t go to college because I don’t have papers”: Incorporation patterns of Latino undocumented youth. Latino Studies, 4, 212-231. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Arizona State University Center for Community Development and Civil Rights . (n.d.). American Dream Academy: Curriculum by the Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE). Unpublished manuscript, Center for Community Development and Civil Rights, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona. Google Scholar | |
|
Auerbach, S. (2004). Engaging Latino parents in supporting college pathways: Lessons from a college access program. Journal of Hispanic Higher Education, 3, 125-145. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | |
|
Auerbach, S. (2006). “If the student is good, let him fly”: Moral support for college among Latino immigrant parents. Journal of Latinos and Education, 5, 275-292. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Bridgeland, J. M., DiIulio, J. J., Morison, K. B. (2006). The silent epidemic: Perspectives of high school dropouts. Washington, DC: Civic. Google Scholar | |
|
Charmaz, K. (2006). Constructing grounded theory: A practical guide through qualitative analysis. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Google Scholar | |
|
Crosnoe, R. (2001). Academic orientation and parental involvement in education during high school. Sociology of Education, 74, 210-230. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI | |
|
De, la, Piedra, M. T. (2010). Adolescent worlds and literacy practices on the United States–Mexico border. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 53, 575-584. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI | |
|
Delgado-Gaitan, C. (1994). Consejos: The power of cultural narratives. Anthropology & Education Quarterly, 25, 298-316. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI | |
|
Desimone, L. (1999). Linking parent involvement with student achievement: Do race and income matter? The Journal of Educational Research, 93, 11-30. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI | |
|
Domina, T. (2005). Leveling the home advantage: Assessing the effectiveness of parental involvement in elementary school. Sociology of Education, 78, 233-249. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | ISI | |
|
Dornbusch, S. M., Ritter, P. L. (1988). Parents of high school students: A neglected resource. Educational Horizons, 53(9), 16-19. Google Scholar | |
|
Downs, A., Martin, J., Fossum, M., Martinez, S., Solorio, M., Martinez, H. (2008). Parents teaching parents: A career and college knowledge program for Latino families. Journal of Latinos and Education, 7, 227-240. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Epstein, J. L. (2011). School, family and community partnerships (2nd ed.). Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Google Scholar | |
|
Fan, X., Chen, M. (2001). Parental involvement and students’ academic achievement: A meta-analysis. Educational Psychology Review, 13, 1-22. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI | |
|
Hart, B., Hager, C. J. E. (2012). Dropped? Latino education and Arizona’s economic future. Retrieved from http://morrisoninstitute.asu.edu/sites/default/files/content/products/Dropped_2012.pdf Google Scholar | |
|
Henderson, A. T., Berla, N. (Eds.). (1994). A new generation of evidence: The family is critical to student achievement. Washington, DC: National Committee for Citizens in Education. Google Scholar | |
|
Hernandez, A., Vargas-Lew, L., Martinez, C. L. (1994). Intergenerational academic aspirations of Mexican American females: An examination of mother, daughter, and grandmother triads. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 16, 195-204. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | ISI | |
|
Hill, N. E., Torres, K. (2010). Negotiating the American dream: The paradox of aspirations and achievement among Latino students and engagement between their families and schools. Journal of Social Issues, 66, 95-112. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI | |
|
Hoover-Dempsey, K. V., Sandler, H. M. (1995). Parental involvement in children’s education: Why does it make a difference? Teachers College Record, 97, 310-331. Google Scholar | ISI | |
|
Hoover-Dempsey, K. V., Walker, J. M., Sandler, H. M., Whetsel, D., Green, C. L., Wilkins, A. S., Closson, K. (2005). Why do parents become involved? Research findings and implications. The Elementary School Journal, 106, 105-130. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI | |
|
Hurtado-Ortiz, M. T., Gauvain, M. (1997). Acculturation and planning for college among youth of Mexican descent. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 19, 506-516. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | ISI | |
|
Hurtado-Ortiz, M. T., Gauvain, M. (2007). Postsecondary education among Mexican American youth. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 29, 181-191. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | ISI | |
|
Ice, C. L., Hoover-Dempsey, K. V. (2011). Linking parental motivations for involvement and student proximal achievement outcomes in homeschooling and public schooling settings. Education and Urban Society, 43, 339-345. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | ISI | |
|
Keith, P. B., Lichtman, M. V. (1994). Does parental involvement influence the academic achievement of Mexican American eighth graders? Results from the national education longitudinal study. School Psychology Quarterly, 9, 256-272. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI | |
|
Kimura-Walsh, E., Yamamura, E. K., Griffin, K. A., Allen, W. R. (2009). Achieving the college dream? Journal of Hispanic Higher Education, 8, 298-315. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | |
|
Kiyama, J. M. (2010). College aspirations and limitations: The role of educational ideologies and funds of knowledge in Mexican American families. American Educational Research Journal, 47, 330-356. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | ISI | |
|
Lachapelle, P. (2008). A sense of ownership in community development: Understanding the potential for participation in community planning efforts. Community Development, 39, 52-59. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
LeFevre, A. L., Shaw, T. V. (2012). Latino parent involvement and school success: Longitudinal effects of formal and informal support. Education and Urban Society, 44, 707-723. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | ISI | |
|
Lietz, C. A., Zayas, L. E. (2010). Evaluating qualitative research for social work practitioners. Advances in Social Work, 11, 188-202. Google Scholar | |
|
López, G. R. (2001). The value of hard work: Lessons on parent involvement from an (im)migrant household. Harvard Educational Review, 71, 416-438. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI | |
|
McKnight, J., Block, P. (2010). The abundant community: Awakening the power of families and neighborhoods. San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler Publishers. Google Scholar | |
|
National Center for Education Statistics . (2013). Fast facts. Retrieved from http://nces.ed.gov/FastFacts/display.asp?id=158 Google Scholar | |
|
Natriello, G., McDill, E. L. (1986). Performance standards, student effort on homework, and academic achievement. Sociology of Education, 59, 18-31. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI | |
|
Orfield, G., Losen, D., Wald, J., Swanson, C. (2004). Losing our future: How minority youth are being left behind by the graduation rate crisis. Retrieved from http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/410936_LosingOurFuture.pdf Google Scholar | |
|
The Parent Institute . (2012). Why is parent involvement important? Hoover-Dempsey & Sandler model of the parental involvement process. Retrieved from http://www.parent-institute.com/pdf-samples/h-d-and-s-model.pdf Google Scholar | |
|
Pew Hispanic Center . (2011). Hispanic college enrollment spikes, narrowing gaps with other groups. Retrieved from http://www.pewhispanic.org/files/2011/08/146.pdf Google Scholar | |
|
Pew Hispanic Center . (2012). Latinos by geography. Retrieved from http://www.pewhispanic.org/2012/03/16/latinos-by-geography/ Google Scholar | |
|
QSR International . (2010). NVivo (Version 9) [Computer software]. Southport, UK: Author. Google Scholar | |
|
QSR International . (2012). NVivo (Version 10) [Computer software]. Southport, UK: Author. Google Scholar | |
|
Ramirez, A. Y. F. (2003). Dismay and disappointment: Parental involvement of Latino immigrant parents. The Urban Review, 35, 93-110. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Reynolds, A. J. (1992). Comparing measures of parental involvement and their effects on academic achievement. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 7, 441-462. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Rodriguez, J. L. (2002). Family environment and achievement among three generations of Mexican American high school students. Applied Developmental Science, 6, 88-94. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Rosado, L. A., Aaron, E. B. (1991). Parental involvement: Addressing the educational needs of Hispanic inner-city parents. The Journal of Educational Issues of Language Minority Students, 8, 23-29. Google Scholar | |
|
Saldaña, J. (2009). The coding manual for qualitative researchers. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Google Scholar | |
|
Smith, M. J. (2008). Four steps to a paradigm shift: Employing critical perspectives to improve outreach to low-SES African American and Latino students and their parents. Journal of College Admission, 201, 17-23. Google Scholar | |
|
Treviño, R. E. (2000). Parental involvement and remarkable student achievement: A study of Mexican-origin families of migrant high achievers (Doctoral dissertation). University of Texas at Austin. Google Scholar | |
|
Trusty, J., Plata, M., Salazar, C. F. (2003). Modeling Mexican Americans’ educational expectations: Longitudinal effects of variables across adolescence. Journal of Adolescent Research, 18, 131-153. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | ISI | |
|
Turney, K., Kao, G. (2009). Barriers to school involvement: Are immigrant parents disadvantaged? The Journal of Educational Research, 102, 257-271. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI | |
|
U.S. Census Bureau . (2011). The Hispanic population: 2010 (Census Briefs). Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-04.pdf Google Scholar | |
|
Valencia, R. R., Black, M. S. (2002). “Mexican Americans don’t value education!” on the basis of the myth, mythmaking, and debunking. Journal of Latinos and Education, 1, 81-103. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Yan, W., Lin, Q. (2005). Parent involvement and mathematics achievement: Contrast across racial and ethnic groups. The Journal of Educational Research, 99, 116-127. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI |
