The Impact of District Variations in High School Graduation Requirements on Latino Newcomer Immigrant Students

• In Event: 61.040 - Violating Childhood: Latina/o Students Navigating the U.S. Policy Terrain

Abstract

This paper explores the experiences of Latino newcomer immigrant high school students in California navigating high school graduation requirements that vary widely from one district to the next. For example, the amount of English students must take to graduate, how much of it will count toward graduation requirements (a-g), and how much access they will have to courses other than English depend on policies that vary considerably across districts. This study suggests that for newcomers, being required to fulfill the a-g requirements actually causes huge hurdles for students who fundamentally need to graduate.

Author

• Mary Martinez-Wenzl, Education Northwest