Mathematics Achievement Opportunity for "American Mexican" Children in Mexico

• In Event: 61.068 - MTCC Roundtable Session 23
  In Roundtable Session: 61.068-3 - Analyzing and Critiquing Inter- and Intra-Immigration Policy Issues

Abstract

Since the US Recession 2008, more Mexicans are leaving than coming to the US. Many families return with their US-born—or “American-Mexican”—children, who often struggle to adjust to school in Mexico. Current research identifies bureaucratic, pedagogical, and cultural challenges that these students confront. However, no research examines how these students fare in terms of academic achievement opportunity. Through multilevel structural equation modeling, we analyze Mexican nationally representative survey and math achievement data to determine 1) how American Mexican children in 6th grade compare to their peers in terms of mathematics achievement, 2) the extent to which social capital mediates the effect of return migration on math achievement, 3) how child/family, school, and community context factors moderate these effects.

Authors

• JImmy Hernandez, Brigham Young University

• Bryant Jensen, Brigham Young University

• Eric Ruiz Bybee, Brigham Young University