On the Educational Rights of Undocumented Students: A Call to Expand Teachers’ Awareness of Policies Impacting Undocumented Students and Strategic Empathy

2020 ◽  
Vol 122 (12) ◽  
pp. 1-34
Author(s):  
Sophia Rodriguez ◽  
William Mccorkle
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Immigrant Students ◽  
Educational Experiences ◽  
Undocumented Students ◽  
The United States ◽  
Educational Policies ◽  
Positive Direction ◽  
Teachers Attitudes ◽  
K 12 ◽  
The Relationship

Background/Context Undocumented and DACAmented students face substantial restrictions in higher education as well as in U.S. society. Though there has been significant research on the effects of these policies on the lives and educational outcomes of immigrant students, including how undocumented students are accessing higher education, there is less understanding of K–12 teachers’ awareness of these policies and their attitudes toward these policies. This is especially true in regard to aggregated, nationwide quantitative research. Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the awareness of teachers nationwide toward the educational experiences and policies of immigrant students, their awareness of false immigration narratives, and teachers’ attitudes toward education policies for immigrant students. In addition, the relationship between teachers’ awareness and attitudes was analyzed. This research is relevant because the awareness of teachers toward the educational experiences of immigrant students is central to cultivating strategic empathy. Similarly, an understanding of the sociopolitical realties of immigrant students, particularly those with an undocumented status, is necessary to advocate for and fulfill students’ educational needs. Furthermore, teachers’ attitudes and beliefs toward educational policies for immigrant students are fundamental because they may reflect on more implicit attitudes of teachers toward immigrant and marginalized populations. Research Design The study is based in a correlation quantitative design that explored the relationship between awareness and attitudes. The research centers on a study of K–12 teachers (N = 5,190) from across all regions of the United States. The instrument measuring awareness and attitudes was designed and validated by the authors. The analyses revealed that overall, there was a relatively strong awareness of educational policies for immigrant students and identification of false immigration narratives. However, several areas of unawareness were especially notable, particularly related to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and the ease of the immigration system. The attitudes of teachers toward educational policies for immigrant students leaned in a more positive direction overall. Additionally, the analysis revealed a significant correlation between awareness of educational policies and attitudes (r = .170, p = < .001) and a stronger correlation between awareness of false immigration narratives and attitudes (r = .579, p = < .001). Conclusions From these data, the authors call for an expanded view of teachers’ awareness in the form of what is conceptualized as sociopolitical strategic empathy. Implications of the data speak to the dangers of ill-prepared teachers and how their lack of awareness impacts attitudes toward undocumented students/lack of inclusive views toward rights.

Untangling Plyler's Legacy: Undocumented Students, Schools, and Citizenship

2015 ◽  
Vol 85 (3) ◽  
pp. 318-341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto G. Gonzales ◽  
Luisa L. Heredia ◽  
Genevieve Negrón-Gonzales
Keyword(s):  
Civic Education ◽  
Educational System ◽  
Immigrant Students ◽  
Undocumented Students ◽  
The United States ◽  
Undocumented Immigrant ◽  
Supreme Court Ruling ◽  
Undocumented Youth ◽  
States Experience ◽  
K 12

In this article, Roberto G. Gonzales, Luisa L. Heredia, and Genevieve Negrón-Gonzales present a nuanced assessment of how undocumented immigrant students in the United States experience the public educational system. Though the landmark 1982 Supreme Court ruling Plyler v. Doe has resulted in hundreds of thousands of undocumented children being educated in US K–12 schools, much of Plyler's promise still eludes them. Drawing data from multiple studies conducted with undocumented youth in California, the authors argue that schools perform three critical social functions—as integrators, as constructors of citizenship, and as facilitators of public and community engagement—that shape the educational experiences and political and civic participation of undocumented immigrant youth. They suggest that while schools hold the potential to engender a sense of belonging and membership for undocumented immigrant students, they often fall short of this promise. The authors argue that constrained resources in school districts that serve large concentrations of students of color, school structures that sort and deprioritize students in lower academic tracks, and modes of civic education that do not allow undocumented students to participate equally in society or view themselves as equal members of the citizenry limit the potential for schools to create positive educational and civic experiences for undocumented youth. In addition to inequalities in the educational system, undocumented students' immigration status constrains their interaction in each school function, limiting the realization of Plyler's promise.

The Transition to College of English Learner and Undocumented Immigrant Students: Resource and Policy Implications

2009 ◽  
Vol 111 (10) ◽  
pp. 2385-2418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gloria M. Rodriguez ◽  
Lisceth Cruz
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
College Transition ◽  
Research Agenda ◽  
Immigrant Students ◽  
Undocumented Students ◽  
The United States ◽  
Transition To College ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Undocumented Immigrant ◽  
K 12

Background/Context The analysis contained in this article was commissioned by the Social Science Research Council's Transitions to College project. Although the historical context and contemporary issues associated with English learners (ELs) and undocumented immigrant students are in many ways distinct, the project team strongly believed that the college transition issues affecting these populations were increasingly salient in light of their rapid and continued growth throughout the United States. Purpose/Objective/Research Questions/Focus of Study The research questions guiding this analysis are: (1) What do we know and what do we need to know about the transition to college of EL and undocumented immigrant students? and (2) What are the resource and policy implications associated with the transition to college of these students? The chief purpose of this analysis is to synthesize the current research and thinking about the transitions to college of EL and undocumented immigrant students and to use the findings to develop a research agenda focused on emergent critical issues. The intent is to educate a research audience that is largely unfamiliar with the experiences of these unique populations and to inform future research directions. Research Design The analysis is situated within the broader context of immigrant educational attainment and integration in the United States. The two student populations are distinguished to delineate the particular college transition experiences of ELs versus undocumented students, while recognizing the overlaps that do exist. Thus, for each student population, the analysis synthesizes current literature and provides discussions of (a) student demographics for states and the United States, (b) student-level issues and factors, (c) K–12 issues and factors, (d) student agency, (e) postsecondary issues and factors, and (f) summary of critical challenges, barriers, and accomplishments relative to the college transition. The final element is a recommended research agenda developed from the issues revealed in this analysis. Findings/Results There is continued growth in the presence of EL and undocumented students, and this growth affects states with longstanding histories of immigrant presence, as well as states that have only recently had notable increases in these populations. Important to understanding the needs and potential of these two groups is that not all EL and undocumented students are new immigrants. Rather, many have only experienced education in the United States, having been born here or having arrived at a very young age with their families. From this analysis, it appears that English proficiency is as much a gatekeeping factor as it is a facilitative factor for EL and undocumented students in their successful college transitions. Unfortunately, because of the impact of poverty on these populations, the financial constraints of transitioning to college further compound the challenges already faced with regard to acquiring English and advanced subject matter proficiency. Two additional findings help to frame the college transition challenges of both EL and undocumented student populations: (1) There is a chasm between research-based best practices and the available human and material resources allocated in schools and colleges to support this objective, and (2) the role of the community college system is salient as a potential facilitative context, but one that is currently overburdened with multiple demands and shrinking resources. Conclusions/Recommendations The article presents an eight-point research agenda that addresses the challenges surfaced in the analysis. The points cover K–12 education, evaluations of the impact of legislation and programs, and postsecondary education, with the aim of improving the overall responsiveness of our educational institutions to the needs and strengths of our EL and undocumented student populations.

Educational Policy and Race

Sociology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahala Dyer Stewart
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
United States ◽  
Educational Policy ◽  
White Supremacy ◽  
The United States ◽  
Educational Policies ◽  
Contemporary Society ◽  
Racial Inequalities ◽  
K 12 ◽  
The Way

Policies are crucial for understanding the way that racial inequalities persist within contemporary society. Educational policies include those official and unofficial guidelines that are developed by policymakers, school administrators, and educators to influence the way that schools both directly and indirectly provide education to students. In the United States, these policies include a variety of state and federal laws and regulations that govern students’ pre-kindergarten, primary (K–8), and secondary schooling (high school), as well as policies affecting higher education (college and beyond). Scholars studying education show that examining how policies are created—who creates it and for what purpose—and also how the policy is put into practice at the state and district level is crucial for understanding inequalities. This entry focuses on K–12 educational policy and race in the United States. More specifically, the focus is primarily on influential policies in schools since the 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education decision, with particular attention on two crucial types of race-based educational policy: desegregation and school choice programs. There are many other educational policies not addressed here that could be examined for their influence in racial schooling inequities. This piece focuses on K–12 educational policies, but policies related to race in pre-K as well as institutions of higher education are also areas in which educational policies are impacted by race relations. Examining those formal and informal guidelines for the way that they shape children’s schooling is crucial for understanding how racial inequalities persist within contemporary society. As a practice of power, education policy has the potential to be used as a tool for positive social change and disrupt white supremacy within the context of schooling. Yet doing so requires first recognizing the way that race and racism have been written into school policies.

“I Knew It Was Gonna Be Hard, but I Always Knew I Had Support From My Parents”: The Role of Family on Undocumented Students’ College Aspirations and Persistence

2021 ◽  
pp. 152102512110188
Author(s):  
Cinthya Salazar
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Undocumented Students ◽  
The United States ◽  
Public University ◽  
College Aspirations ◽  
Higher Education Research ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Postsecondary Success ◽  
States Experience

Literature shows that undocumented students in the United States experience significant challenges to and through higher education. Only a few studies have uncovered the mechanisms that undocumented students use to persist in college; in particular, the role that family plays on their postsecondary success is understudied. In this qualitative study, I examine the role that family plays on undocumented students’ college aspirations and persistence. Findings from a sample of 16 undocumented students attending a four-year public university show that their families are the stimulus motivating them to pursue higher education, as well as the support system they can rely on to manage college barriers. However, the data also revealed that for a few participants, their families are a source of stress, resulting in additional challenges they must manage as they navigate higher education. I present these findings using participants’ vignettes and conclude with implications for higher education research and practice.

Examining the Relationship Between Food Insecurity and Academic Performance: Implications for Diversity and Equity in Higher Education

2021 ◽  
pp. 152102512110538
Author(s):  
Heather Mechler ◽  
Kathryn Coakley ◽  
Marygold Walsh-Dilley ◽  
Sarita Cargas
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
United States ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Educational Equity ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Drop Out ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Professional Students ◽  
The Relationship

In recent years, researchers have increasingly focused on the experience of food insecurity among students at higher education institutions. Most of the literature has focused on undergraduates in the eastern and midwestern regions of the United States. This cross-sectional study of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students at a Minority Institution in the southwestern United States is the first of its kind to explore food insecurity among diverse students that also includes data on gender identity and sexual orientation. When holding other factors constant, food-insecure students were far more likely to fail or withdraw from a course or to drop out entirely. We explore the role that higher education can play in ensuring students’ basic needs and implications for educational equity.

Immigrant Students in the Trump Era: What We Know and Do Not Know

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 716-742 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chi Nguyen ◽  
Maraki Kebede
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
School Choice ◽  
Presidential Election ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Immigrant Students ◽  
Educational Experiences ◽  
The United States ◽  
Political Transition ◽  
Deferred Action ◽  
Political Divide

The 2016 U.S. presidential election marked a time of deep political divide for the nation and resulted in an administrative transition that represented a drastic shift in values and opinions on several matters, including immigration. This article explores the implications of this political transition for immigrants’ K-16 educational experiences during President Trump’s administration. We revisit literature on school choice and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)—two policy areas where the most significant changes are expected to occur—as it pertains to immigrant students in the United States. We identify areas where there is limited scholarship, such as the unique educational experiences of various minority immigrant subgroups, the interplay between race and immigration status, and immigrant students in rural areas. Recommendations are made for policy and research.

The Changing Mission and Nature of Partnerships in Public Universities

2013 ◽  
pp. 726-741 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marianne Robin Russo ◽  
Kristin Brittain
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Public Education ◽  
The United States ◽  
Public University ◽  
Public Higher Education ◽  
The Public ◽  
Academic Mission ◽  
New Business ◽  
K 12 ◽  
The University

Reasons for public education are many; however, to crystalize and synthesize this, quite simply, public education is for the public good. The goal, or mission, of public education is to offer truth and enlightenment for students, including adult learners. Public education in the United States has undergone many changes over the course of the last 200 years, and now public education is under scrutiny and is facing a continual lack of funding from the states. It is due to these issues that public higher education is encouraging participatory corporate partnerships, or neo-partnerships, that will fund the university, but may expect a return on investment for private shareholders, or an expectation that curriculum will be contrived and controlled by the neo-partnerships. A theoretical framework of an academic mission and a business mission is explained, the impact of privatization within the K-12 model on public higher education, the comparison of traditional and neo-partnerships, the shift in public higher education towards privatization, a discussion of university boards, and the business model as the new frame for a public university. A public university will inevitably have to choose between a traditional academic mission that has served the nation for quite some time and the new business mission, which may have negative implications for students, academic freedom, tenure, and faculty-developed curriculum.

Globalization, Cross Border Education, and Student Migration

2015 ◽  
pp. 397-442
Author(s):  
Ryan Vance Guffey
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
United States ◽  
Student Mobility ◽  
The United States ◽  
Institutional Characteristics ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Education Environment ◽  
Perceived Importance ◽  
Push And Pull ◽  
The Relationship

Presently, there are more than two million students studying outside their home countries and the total number is expected to grow to eight million by 2025. This trend has inspired research into the “push” and “pull” factors that drive student mobility within the global higher education environment. However, despite the growing presence of cross border student enrollments throughout the United States, which is also the number one location for cross border students to study in the world, limited efforts have been made to identify what characteristics motivate particular groups of cross border students to leave their home countries to attend particular types of higher education in the United States. This chapter addresses that gap in the literature. In response, this study sought to build upon existing global higher education literature by determining the relationship between the perceived importance of institutional characteristics and cross border students' age, gender, and country of origin.

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