This chapter examines the current state of research and knowledge about the Chicano dropout problem. In 1986, in every age group, dropout rates were higher for Chicanos than for Whites or other ethnic or racial groups. National dropout rates have improved slightly for Hispanic and Mexican-origin populations since 1980 but remain more than twice as…

Although the special education system has become a central institutional mechanism for addressing school failure and low achievement, it is a system unresponsive to the needs of Chicano students. Despite the severity of problems of school failure for Chicano students, interactions with the special education system have largely been characterized…

In 1994, California voters approved Proposition 187, which prohibits provision of publicly funded education and social services to undocumented immigrants, and which requires public schools to verify the legal status of students and their parents. This paper examines socioeconomic and immigration trends leading to the emergence of Proposition 187,…

This book aims to provide a better understanding of Mexican American high school students and their struggles with ethnicity, Americanization, prejudice, schools, and life's purposes. In most Anglo minds, these students are characterized by exceptionally high dropout rates and poor school performance, without any explanation for this performance…

This literature review examines the effect of teacher expectations on minority students, and especially on Mexican-American students. The review focuses on four areas: (1) teachers' attitudes and expectations toward Mexican-American children; (2) teachers' attitudes and expectations toward minority children; (3) teachers' performance expectations…

Immigration to the United States from Mexico has a long history and has been increasing in recent years. Immigrant students, especially those who arrive as adolescents and those whose families are migrant agricultural workers, have special educational needs. Mexican immigrant students have varied educational backgrounds, but most need to learn…

Traditional theories of development view separation and individuation as primary tasks of adolescents; the self-in-relation framework, however, argues that the autonomous and separate self-paradigm does not describe female development. Current research suggests that self-esteem arises from subscribing to separate self-definitions for males and…

In response to the growing concern over the significant underrepresentation, underpreparation, and enrollment decline of minority students, the chancellor's office of the California Community Colleges prepared this report to identify community college instructional programs designed specifically for Blacks and Hispanics. Sections 1 through 3…

This report discusses the following current issues and trends in American Indian, Mexican American, migrant, outdoor, rural, and small school education: (1) motivating American Indian students to higher achievement in mathematics and science; (2) creating culturally relevant parent education/skills development programs and materials for American…

As part of the National High Blood Pressure Education Program effort, the conference explored the implications and impact of the prevalence of hypertension in Spanish-speaking populations in California. Approximately 150 experts in health fields, representing all levels of government, public and private health care providers, consumers, and health…

Since 1971 the status of Mexican American education hasn't changed significantly in three important areas: students, curriculum, and educational finance and resources. Mexican American students are underrepresented at all academic levels, especially higher levels, and in advanced science and math courses. Educational efforts begun in the 1960s…

Designed to provide health career information to Chicano/Hispanic students, this publication can be used by counselors and teachers to motivate and assist Chicano/Hispanic students to enter the health professions. The booklet includes: (1) inspirational comments from pictured Chicano/Hispanic role models in the Northwest who are currently involved…

The bibliography cites approximately 2,676 books, journal articles, master's theses, doctoral dissertations, and other unpublished materials pertaining to the urban-rural cross-cultural adjustment problems of American Indians and Mexican Americans. Written between 1902 and 1969, the materials are divided into 2 major sections: (1) those pertaining…

Critical race theory offers a way to understand how ostensibly race-neutral structures in education--knowledge, merit, objectivity, and "good education"--in fact help form and police the boundaries of white supremacy and racism. Critical race theory can be used to deconstruct the meaning of "educational achievement," to…

A study examined English-dominant and Spanish-dominant students' perceptions of opportunities to communicate in science and mathematics classrooms. A survey was administered to 207 Mexican American secondary students who attended a summer enrichment program in mathematics and science at a university on the Texas-Mexico border. The students were…