The Growing Population of Latina/o K–12 Students in Chicago Suburban and Rural School Districts

• In Event: 66.021 - Latina/o Educational Landscapes in Chicago: Testimonios, Resistance, and Praxis

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to present information about the changing demographics of the suburban and rural school districts in the Chicagoland area due to gentrification and globalization. In the Chicagoland area, the majority of the Latina/o population lives outside the city. According to the 2010 Census Bureau, the Latina/o population has increased to just over 1 million people in suburban and rural townships peripheral to the city limits of Chicago. In comparison, the city of Chicago hosts about 778,000 Latina/os. This mixed-methods study included a participatory action research component as well as quantitative data collection of Latina/o student enrollment in 5 different school districts and a survey filled by 20 educators from suburban and rural school districts. Qualitative survey questions asked participants about how school district leaders have responded to the growing Latina/o student population in the last ten years.

A post-structural lens (Lincoln & Denzin, 2013) was used to interpret the findings. The results of the study find that there are concerns regarding the effectiveness of educational resources to the needs of the growing Latina/o student population. School leadership and staff have not been sufficiently equipped to effectively engage with the growing numbers of English language learners, low-income students, or immigrant families. The analysis focuses on the concerns expressed by survey participants and accommodates the goals of participatory action research by providing three suggestions: provide cultural competency development, provide examples of local proven leadership, and provide opportunities for partnerships and resources for teachers and school leaders from suburban and rural districts.

Author

• Gabriel Alejandro Cortez, Northeastern Illinois University