The purpose of this presentation is to identify the challenges faced by special educators throughout North America in meeting the needs of Mexican-American students. Recommendations will also be provided for collaborating with families from Mexico along the following dimensions: population and demographic factors, urbanization and the decline of…

This paper reports on the problem of disproportionately high remediation rates among African-American and Mexican American college students in the California State University (CSU) system. In response to this need, it is reported that CSU began a program of having incoming students complete any necessary remedial courses within their first year of…

Twenty-one fourth-year college students of Mexican-American ancestry attending the University of Arizona were interviewed to determine the unique qualities contributing to the students' persistence. The study used empowerment as its organizing model and identified institutional factors contributing to student success and persistence. Institutional…

In July 1972, Mexican American educators attended a meeting in San Francisco, California, called by the National Institute of Education (NIE) Planning Unit. Purpose of the meeting was to inform these Chicano educators about plans for the new Federal agency, which was created in parallel with the U.S. Office of Education (USOE) and took over the…

The Xinachtli Project, implemented by Chicano activists in Phoenix (Arizona) and El Paso (Texas), addresses the loss of ancestral culture by public school students of Mexican ancestry. The project teaches indigenous Mexican culture to students and their teachers through a series of presentations and lectures on Aztec dance, mathematics, language,…

This paper critiques the consumerization of schooling and knowledge, then looks at the ways in which Chicano students have lashed out against consumption in their education. From early childhood education to the university, U.S. schooling is ensconced in the capitalist notion of the marketplace. Within the marketplace of schools, the curriculum is…

Research on learning styles of Mexican Americans has focused on the cognitive processes and cultural variables affecting cognitive style rather than on perceptual learning style. This study is the first attempt in the assessment of seven perceptual learning style orientations among an exclusive Mexican American population. Using the Multi-Modal…

This ethnographic study of 22 bilingual Mexican American fifth grade students in rural Texas examines which pedogogical techniques reduced students' risk of failure. Classroom instruction was based on Cummins' model of community intervention in which story-telling, dialogue journal writing, and bilingual dialogue between teacher and students…

This paper reports on a case study that was conducted at five high schools from a large, urban school district located in South Texas. The purpose of the study was to gain an understanding of Algebra 1 teaching strategies. The research questions were: (1) What is the predominant mode of instruction for Algebra 1? and (2) What is the level of…

This paper examines the comparable educational histories of the "Hispanos" of a mountainous area of New Mexico and the peoples of southern Appalachia. Presbyterian missionaries entered both regions following the Civil War and soon placed mountain people in the category of "exceptional populations," along with freed slaves,…

As the population of minority pupils continues to increase, the need for special education personnel to identify and educate culturally and linguistically diverse exceptional students will also rise. Continuing shortages of qualified personnel in special education have been declared a national emergency, with "diagnostic staff" ranked as…

This study used interviews, home visits, observations of parent meetings, and informal discussions to examine parental involvement at a Texas elementary school with a high concentration of Mexican American families. In 1997-98, the school's Parent Involvement Cadre (1995-1997) was replaced with a new system of subject-related and support…

A 4-year ethnographic study in Carpinteria, California, examined the school district's parental involvement activities for their effectiveness with lower-class Spanish-speaking parents. Research at three elementary schools included observations of traditional activities, such as parent-teacher conferences and open house, and non-conventional…

In the 1980's the quality of education must improve for all students and particularly for Chicanos, who have not fared well in America's educational system as illustrated by the fact that as of 1977 fewer than 40% had completed high school. What is good education for Chicano students is good education for all students. All students should achieve…

This paper discusses the education of Mexican-American students along the Mexico-United States border. A brief review of historical and cultural perspectives suggests that the Mexican population in the border area continues to increase because the area is culturally and linguistically accomodating. Schools that teach the dominant Anglo culture…