Running Page: Literature Review

Barriers to Educational Opportunities for Hispanics in the United States

Arlene E. Caudillo
RWS 1302- TR 07:30-8:50
Professor Paul J. Vierra
April 10, 2016

Running Page: Literature Review

Abstract
Over the recent years Hispanics have been hit hard by the economy downfall causing
many Hispanics to be below poverty. When it comes to Hispanics attending school across the
United States, many are faced with difficult decisions whether or not they have the time, money,
or moral support from their family members and community to defeat these barriers. A large
percent of the population in the United states today, have immigrant students. This a critical
problem that we are still facing today, and we can only hope that change provides equal
opportunity across the United States when it comes to education. School systems have failed in
the ability to prepare every student to advance so when that student finally decides to go to
college they are better prepared.

Professor Paul J. Vierra

Running Page: Literature Review

Barriers to Educational Opportunities for Hispanics in the United States

Across the country, smart, capable Hispanic students face immense obstacles to fulfill
their college dreams. In a newspaper article, Latino students face barriers to higher education
written by White she claims some of the challenges are particular to undocumented students,
many apply equally to legal residents and citizens but another consideration is the fact that
Hispanics are projected to be the fastest growing segment of the labor force in the years ahead.
Immigration will continue to add to the number of Hispanics in the United States, but in the
coming years, it is their above-average birth rates that will really drive population growth,
according to demographers. On average, Hispanic women can expect to have about one more
child than the average non-Hispanic white woman. Competitiveness will be impacted by the
progress Hispanics make at all levels of the educational system (white, 2012). Over the past few
years college amongst the Hispanic culture has increased drastically. According to the 2000
census, Hispanic school dropout rate has declined, while college enrollment has increased as
Latino Students are working towards earning their bachelors degree. (Fry, 2005) Many Latinos
struggle in life to make ends meet. For generations the Hispanic community has experienced
blood, sweat, and tears to improve opportunities in the elementary and secondary education for
its youth. The majority of Latinos are mainly considered low income, are single parents, school
system has failed them, have no moral support, and language barriers is a main concern in the
United States. According to an article by USA Today it claims that, nearly nine in ten Hispanics
say that it is necessary to get a college education to get ahead in life more than any other ethnic
or racial group in the United States. Hispanic students are more than willing to continue to
pursue their education, but many odds are against them. There are three critical issues that are
thought to be correlated with Latinos who are faced with these barriers that they must find

Professor Paul J. Vierra

Running Page: Literature Review

possible ways to overcome these adversities in their everyday life. Language barriers, school
systems failures, and moral and support from family and community are some of the issues
Hispanics mainly encounter. In the present paper, we will discuss why language, support, and
system failure has hurt the Hispanic culture, and what has been done since to change the system
to better prepare children once they begin their first day of school. It is hypothesized through
research that Hispanics are now facing lower school dropouts, and college statistics have
increased as they try to pursue a better and brighter future. At the start of this century researchers
have indicated that the Hispanic culture would someday and somewhat become the largest
minority group in the United States.
The first obstacle that the majority of Hispanics encounter in schools is language barriers.
In an article written by Hubber (2010), he interviews a student who struggles with discrimination
because she is a minority. She claims that at such young age she was affected by certain remarks
that she encountered because she was a minority. The majority of the time she felt like she was a
newcomer, but often felt forgotten. (hubber, p.90) According to Polanco (1991), A insignificant
number of immigrant students attain only minimal schooling in their native country. They are
sometimes illiterate, and cannot make the transition from Spanish to English that other nativeborn, limited English proficient students make naturally through the regular bilingual
education/ESL programs. (p.20). Whether the student is in elementary, high school, or even
college they are still affected by this adversity. According to Ricken and Terek (2006),
suggestions were made on responding to the needs of our increasing Hispanic population. They
claimed that programs should assist children and their families who are affected by English
Proficiency. Students should enter this program long before a child enters the school system. (p.
11). The importance of what this claims mentions is the advantage aspect of those students who

Professor Paul J. Vierra

Running Page: Literature Review

speak very little English and whose parents are foreign in the United States. The majority of the
schools systems have failed to provide opportunity for the minority to succeed. According to
Ford (2015), Hispanics lack gifted education. (p.190). This only helps us to believe that school
districts should get more involved in order to find out the needs of every Hispanic student. If
language is their weakness schools should better prepare a student for college. Programs such as;
tutoring, summer school programs should be offered often to improve on their weakness and
sustain their strengths. According to Flores (2007), As a nation, we are doing a poor job of
educating the largest segment of the population (pg.24). This only makes you realize that
something needs to be done to better the lives of every Hispanic that is willing to better
themselves.
Another obstacle that Hispanics face is moral support from their family. It is very
beneficial that parent get involved in their childs schooling. Some of these parents immigrate to
become factory workers, and dont have the time to get involved in the childs life when it comes
to their education. They remain with high hopes of someday expanding educational opportunities
for their children. This will only lead them to a better economy. According to Gaitan (2004),
Part of what parents believe is necessary to support their children is to be available when the
school calls (p.5). Parents find this situation to be very frustrating because the school systems
lack school involvement. Parents should be entitled to know how or what can be done to help
their children improve in schools. Schools throughout the United States should hold parents to a
high standard. If standards were implied on a daily basis the results would become more
successful in the future. However, according to Grigorenko and Takanishi (2010), claim that
through research sociological studies first found more than four decades ago that children whose
parents complete fewer years of education tend, on average, to complete fewer years of school

Professor Paul J. Vierra

Running Page: Literature Review

themselves, and to have lower-paying jobs when they enter the adult labor force. (p.13). This on
the other hand, prevents them from getting involved in their childrens education. It has been
proven that the majority of Hispanic parents have never gotten passed high school education.
This only decreases the chances of their children succeeding in school due to the knowledge and
experience from their parents. What the school systems need to do is to focus on the needs of
every child who needs assistance in this matter. No matter what level of education students are
enrolled they should be entitled to their rights in every institution. According to Casso and
Roman (1975), they claim that the importance on the rights that every Hispanic is entitled to in
these institutions is critical. They believe that Hispanics are in schools to better themselves, and
to be able to provide for their children and fellow Chicanos, but somehow have been forgotten
(p.71). On the other hand, Perez (2016), claims that although the differences in academic
background in the Latino community some Hispanics follow after the legacy of their parents if
successful, but according to Caughty and Owen (2015), they claim that culture socialization is
important when it involves learning process and that cultural socialization may be the key to
supporting school readiness among ethnic minorities (Caughty, Owen, 2015, p.392)
The third obstacle Hispanics face when it comes to education is diversity in poverty.
According to Vega (2015), he states that many students of color, including Latino students,
combat significant adversity in their lives including poverty, familial stressors, and low teacher
expectations (p.37) This is by far the most critical adversity one can face. This will determine
your future and the many more obstacles Hispanics face due to their income status. Students who
face poverty level incomes lack many sources that get in the way of them advancing in life.
Many are forced to work to make ends meet, to provide food and shelter for their families. These
negative outcomes keep them from succeeding in school. When it comes to higher education for

Professor Paul J. Vierra

Running Page: Literature Review

Chicanos, student aid is a problem as well. They are decreasing student aids along the board.
Those who seem to get affected the most are the minorities. On the other hand, according to
Justiz, Wilson, and Bjork (1994), they claim that we need to come up with strategies to pursue
policies that encourage persistence. They discuss the importance of identifying ways in which
students can be encouraged to stay in school once they start, and to complete their degrees.
(p.99). Hispanics females who are single mothers are affected as well. They are forced to work to
provide for their families and pay expenses such as day care. There is no time to advance in life
because they are left with two choices, work or school. To be a single mother can be
overwhelming, and can play a critical part in their kids life even when they begin to go to
school. In the book, Chicana/Latina Education in everyday life, written by Bernal, Elenes,
Godinez, and Villenas, they provided many interviews on education in the everyday life.
According to Hernandez (2006), she claims that every aspect of her life was controlled as such a
young age by her father who was muy machista (very macho). She encountered many beatings,
physical and mental abuse that led her to distant herself from her father. (p.200). So this leads us
to conclude that as children we are affected by what we experience in our households. Some
Hispanic mothers never advance due to the lack of support from their parents, while others
overcome adversities to do bigger and better things in life. According to Quiones and Kiyama
(2014), there view on fatherhood is much more different. Not all fathers are strict but, only
encourage their children to continue their education (p.149).
Through my research on Barriers to Educational Opportunities for Hispanics in the
United States, I have decided to use statistics to show the increase enrollment in higher education
amongst Latinos. According to Martinez, and Gonzales the reports in this study (2015), have
claimed that 16.5%, Latinos now constitute the largest racial/ethnic minority group across U.S

Professor Paul J. Vierra

Running Page: Literature Review

campuses among 18- to 24-yer-olds (p.70). All of these results confirm that more that there are
less dropouts and more college enrollments in this generation. Although Hispanics still continue
to face these adversities whether it is language barriers, school systems fail, or lack of moral
support from families Hispanics continue to prove that the majority of them have defeated these
odds. Through my research and its results I can only predict that more minorities will enroll in
college and earn more degrees in the near future. If and when the school systems make changes
to help every Hispanic student with their needs the statistics will increase even more drastically.

As you can see, being a Hispanic student in school can be overwhelming, but it is important to
know what we can do to better prepare a student who is struggling with language barriers.
Hispanics are now the largest minority ethnic group in the United States. Many Hispanics come
to this country seeking migrant employment, moving from place to place, and job to job.
Unfortunately, children of Hispanic migrants often encounter great difficulties in our educational
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Running Page: Literature Review

settings. Likewise, American educators generally experience problems in offering quality

education to Hispanic migrant students. Research has outlined the factors that are the greatest
barriers to educating Hispanic migrant students. The broad categories of obstacles as defined by
literature are language, culture, lack of parental involvement, and mobility. We must come
together and improve our school systems, our economy, and education. Family support will
come and go. What our parents do in their lives will affect us at children. We will either become
a successful person or we will be forced to work to provide food and shelter for our families.
According to Garcia, Carrillo, Guzman, and etc. (2015), a teachers attitude about their students
ability plays a critical role on the students ability to learn. As a teacher we must find the
weaknesses a child is facing and turn these things into something positive. Since minorities face
adversities such as poverty and segregation rates of crime, pregnancy, juvenile delinquency, and
drugs will only keep rising. (p.3). In conclusion, according to Jackson (2012) To meet this
challenge, four objectives must be reached. First, it is essential that college admission counselors
improve their lines of communication with high school students, parents, counselors, and
teachers. Each of these groups needs more accurate information regarding courses, grades, and
test scores required for admission to college. Around the country, high schools and colleges have
forged effective collaborations to better prepare all students, especially minorities, for college
study. (Jackson, p.61)
Across the country, smart, capable Hispanic students face immense obstacles to fulfill
their collegiate dreams. While some of the challenges are particular to undocumented students,
many apply equally to legal residents and citizens but another consideration is the fact that
Hispanics are projected to be the fastest growing segment of the labor force in the years ahead.
Immigration will continue to add to the number of Hispanics in the United States, but in the

Professor Paul J. Vierra

Running Page: Literature Review

10

coming years, it is their above-average birth rates that will really drive population growth,
according to demographers. On average, Hispanic women can expect to have about one more
child than the average non-Hispanic white woman USA. competitiveness will be impacted by the
progress Hispanics make at all levels of the educational system," she said.

Professor Paul J. Vierra

Running Page: Literature Review

11

References
Chicanos in higher education: Proceedings of a national institute on access to higher education
for the Mexican American. Casso, H. J. and Romn, G. D. (Directors). (1976). [Video/DVD]
Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press.
Caughy, M. O.., & Owen, M. T. (2015). Cultural socialization and school readiness of African
American and Latino preschoolers. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology,
21(3), 391-399. doi:10.1037/a0037928
Delgado Bernal, D. (2006). Chicana Latina education in everyday life: Feminista perspectives
on pedagogy and epistemology. Albany: State University of New York Press.
Delgado-Gaytan, C. (2004). Involving Latino families in schools: Raising student achievement
through home-school partnerships. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Corwin Press. Retrieved from
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Flores, R. (2007). The new face of America: Hispanics, immigration, and higher education.
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/F07_TOC.htm
Ford, D. Y. (2015). Multicultural issues: Recruiting and retaining black and Hispanic students in
gifted education: Equality versus equity schools. Gifted Child Today, 38(3), 187-191.

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Fry R. (2014). U.S. high school dropout rate reaches record low, driven by improvements among
Hispanics, retrieved from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/10/02/u-s-highGarcia-Joslin, J., Carrillo, G. L., Guzman, V., Vega, D., Plotts, C. A., & Lasser, J. (2015). Latino
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Grigorenko, E. L., & Takanishi, R. (2010). Immigration, diversity, and education. New York:
Routledge.
Jackson, N. (2012). Minority access to higher education. Journal of College Admission, (214),
56-62. Retrieved from http://0search.ebscohost.com.lib.utep.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ992740&site=e
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Justiz, M. J., Wilson, R., & Bjork, L. G. (1994). Minorities in higher education. Phoenix, Ariz.:
Oryx Press.
Mendez, J. P. (2015). Hispanic-serving institutions in American higher education: Their origin,
and present and future challenges (Fir ed.). Sterling, Virginia: Stylus Publishing.
Noboa-Polanco, J., Romo, R., & Toms Rivera Center. (1991). They come to learn: Hispanic
immigrant students in Texas. San Antonio, Tex.: The Toms Rivera Center.
Perez Huber, L. (2010). Using Latina/o critical race theory (LatCrit) and racist nativism to
explore intersectionality in the educational experiences of undocumented chicana college
students. Educational Foundations, 24(1-2), 77-96. Retrieved from http://0-

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search.ebscohost.com.lib.utep.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ885982&site=e
ds-live&scope=site; http://intraweb.stockton.edu/eyos/page.cfm?siteID=144&pageID=10
Prez, David, II, & Taylor, K. B. (2016). Cultivando logradores: Nurturing and sustaining Latino
male success in higher education. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, 9(1), 1-19.
doi:10.1037/a0039145
Quiones, S., & Kiyama, J. M. (2014). "Contra la corriente" (against the current): The role of
Latino fathers in family-school engagement. School Community Journal, 24(1), 149-176.
Retrieved from http://0search.ebscohost.com.lib.utep.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ1032261&site=
eds-live&scope=site
Ricken, R., & Terc, M. (2006). User-friendly schools for Latinos: A model for all immigrants.
Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield Education. Retrieved from
http://www.loc.gov/catdir/toc/ ecip0515/2005018471.html
Toppo G. (2016). Study: Black, Hispanic parents more likely to say college degree is important
USA TODAY NEWS
Vega, D., Moore III, J., L., & Miranda, A. H. (2015). In their own words: Perceived barriers to
achievement by African American and Latino high school students. American Secondary
Education, 43(3), 36-59. Retrieved from http://0search.ebscohost.com.lib.utep.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=tfh&AN=108991088&site=e
ds-live&scope=site

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White, M. (2012). Latino students face barriers to higher education. The Desert News.
Retrieved from http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765586240/Latino-students-face-barriers-tohigher-education.html?pg=all

Professor Paul J. Vierra