Publications

In Massachusetts, the Latino population increased by 475 percent between 1980 and 2017, marking a dramatic growth. This diverse ethnic community of Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, Salvadoreans, Colombians, Brazilians, and more also contains a wide range of cultures, immigration and migration experiences, languages, and socio-political backgrounds. However, there are numerous commonalities involving education. Recent research at the Mauricio Gastón Institute for Latino Community Development and Policy reveals that Latino students in Massachusetts are more likely to attend public schools, in communities with significant academic achievement and opportunity gaps as well as other challenges, from food scarcity to higher rates of unemployment. At the same time, the state-wide shift to standards-based education has had a disproportionately negative impact on Latino students, who already feel the effects of politically motivated anti-immigrant policies and laws that limit bilingual education.

This collection of essays, from those working inside the classroom as well as researchers taking a broader look at policy, addresses the array of issues facing Latino students in Massachusetts. These perspectives paint a complex picture of the educational experience for Latinos, and offer expert suggestions for improving classrooms, school environments, and ultimate educational outcomes for an important growing demographic in the Commonwealth.

Suggested citation: 
Rodriguez, A., Esquivel, L. E., Park, C., Enriquez, D., Flete Gomez, J. R., Erilus, I., Xie, H., Lue, S., Oliver-Davila, A., Trunfio, P., Nardi, C., Howard, K.A.S. and Solberg, V.S.H. (2025). Using STEM Learning, STEM Career Development, and Civic Engagement to Support Middle School Latinx Youth Becoming Future Ready. In L. Rivera & M. Colon (Eds.), Critical Perspectives on Latino Education in Massachusetts. University of Massachusetts Press.