Critical Literacy and the School-to-Prison Pipeline in Traditional and Juvenile Education Settings

• In Event: 49.088 - Roundtable Session 17
  In Roundtable Session: 49.088-8 - Learner Language, Identity, and Agency

Abstract

Critical literacy skills give one access to different ways of thinking, participating, and engaging in society, ultimately providing a source of power in being able to better understand the world. Latino male adolescents are not having a supportive and engaging school experience where academic literacy skills can develop and flourish, resulting in a school-to-prison pathway. This study utilizes the life history method to document the lives of four formerly incarcerated young Latino males and their personal and academic experiences in both traditional and juvenile education settings. The insights gained from the study will provide educators and community members with ideas and strategies to keep Latino male youth who are struggling in school to stay on a path towards school completion.

Author

• Veronica Garcia Garza, University of San Diego