Latinx Parents' Experiences of Bilingual Education: Juntos podemos navegar el sistema bilingüe en Illinois

• In Event: Parent Voices in Multilingual Contexts

Abstract

This paper explores the experiences of seven Latinx Spanish-speaking parents with the different language programs offered in Illinois. Recent research (Kaveh, 2018) demonstrates a dissonance between the goals of bilingual programs and Latinx parents' educational aspirations for their children. This study documents the voices of Latinx parents that had an opportunity to share how they have navigated decisions about their children’s education. Two parents per program were interviewed separately, as well as parents whose children received no language services, and then brought together for a focus group. Findings suggest that the dual language program aligned more with parents’ educational goals for their children than other language programs, and that parents benefited from sharing information about their experiences with each other.

Author

• Norma Monsivais Diers, University of Illinois at Chicago