Latino Education, A Texas Size Problem: Empowering Parents Through Policy Education

Latinos are the largest minority demographic in the state of Texas. However, Latino students have a dropout rate twice as high than that of their White peers. This issue has contributed to poverty in the Latino community as well as a shortage of competent bilingual professionals. Research has shown that Latino parents who engage in their students education have a positive effect on their educational outcomes. This presentation will seek to review scholarly literature on Latino education and parental engagement as well as present an innovative intervention to address the issue guided by Latino Critical Race Theory (LatCrit).

Product One is a systematic literature review that seeks to answer the question, “does Latino parents’ knowledge of educational policy have an effect on graduation outcomes?”. Product Two introduces LatCrit as a theoretical framework for an innovative idea that educates Latino parents on local school policy. Product Three presents a social worker-led parent support group that teaches parents different local educational policies to empower them to engage their students school systems.

Latino parents face many barriers within the school system. Teaching them about local educational policy will give them the tools they need to push against oppressive systems that do not benefit their children. The time is now to act for the future Latino students in Texas.