School systems in the United States are not serving Latino students well, especially those from low-income families. This book examines difficulties encountered by Mexican-origin students--one of the fastest growing minority groups--and describes why some schools fall short and how others have improved student outcomes. The focus throughout the…

Interviews with 43 Mexican American 4th- and 5th-grade students found that student beliefs about their ethnicity influenced perceptions of their social and behavioral competence, self-worth, and attitudes toward school, but were not related to their level of academic achievement. Discusses the relationship between parents' and childrens' beliefs…

Mathematics achievement was used to distinguish between resilient and nonresilient Latino middle-school students, primarily immigrants from working-class families speaking English as a Second Language. Resilient students had greater involvement and satisfaction in math class, academic self-concept, and achievement motivation than nonresilient…

Finds that, among 117 Mexican-American second and fifth graders from Spanish-dominant homes, reading comprehension gains were proportionately much smaller in summer than the school year, while summer and school year gains in auditory vocabulary were similar. Discusses family, peer, and classroom influences on distinct language skills. (SV)

In a low-income south Texas school with primarily Mexican American students, teacher assessments of fourth-grade students' content reading ability and work habits predicted student success for that school year, as measured by grades and achievement scores. Teacher input can be critical in the early identification of students at risk of dropping…

Three Arizona programs aim to train culturally and linguistically diverse general and special educators who understand the needs and strengths of rural communities. Native Americans and Mexican Americans from rural areas who want to work with special needs populations are recruited, as well as whites. Many are paraprofessionals, working full time…

This paper addresses the continuing failure of racial and ethnic minorities, specifically Mexican Americans and American Indians, to gain full representation in doctoral graduating classes and college faculties. The demographics of minorities in doctoral programs is reviewed with particular emphasis on the Southwestern United States and the two…

This theme issue focuses on issues related to high Texas dropout rates among Hispanic and other minority group students and on dropout prevention strategies. "School Finance Inequities Mean Schools Are Not Ready To Teach" (Maria Robledo Montecel) deplores the recent Texas Supreme Court ruling that state educational funding is…

In 1994-95, a study identified over 50 Texas schools that were heavily impacted by poverty but had high scores on state achievement tests. Specifically, the schools received Title I funds and were implementing Title I schoolwide programs, and at each school, over 60 percent of students met free or reduced-price lunch criteria; at least 70 percent…

"Westhills" is a multiethnic coastal community in San Diego County, California, in which Mexican Americans comprise approximately 22 percent of the population. This book reports ethnographic research on a group of working-class Chicana adolescents in one Westhills barrio and their problems, school experiences, immersion in two…

Compiled primarily from bibliographies and reference lists from books about Chicanos in higher education and the social sciences, the bibliography cites 774 published and unpublished works concerning Chicanos in higher education, written between 1943 and 1978 (primarily the 1970's). Other sources include dissertations, journals, monographs,…

The over-representation of minority group children, particularly Mexican Americans, in special education has been well documented. The use of standardized, norm-referenced, psychological assessment measures has created obstacles to the advancement of minority group individuals in American society. This is especially true since results from such…

Deganawidah Quetzalcoatl University (D-QU), the first Native American controlled Indian-Chicano college in America, began operation in 1971 near Davis, California, with the primary objective of facilitating Indian and Chicano self-determination, not only in higher education but in all facets of Indian and Chicano life. Part One is a history of…

The final report summarizes the proceedings of the Midwest Conference on the Education of Hispanics, the last in a series of five regional working conferences sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. All five keynote addresses, which provide an overview of Hispanic education, are summarized. Nine individual presentations and discussions…

Community involvement, administrator and teacher education, student self esteem, and cultural awareness are four priorities for Mexican American education at all levels--from early childhood programs through higher education opportunities. The community involvement necessary for effective education requires sincere two-way communication; the…