Reimagining Alternative Schools: Immigrant Youth Perceptions in Canada and the United States

• In Event: Equitable Access and Opportunity in Schools of Choice

Abstract

This study seeks to understand the unique educational needs of first-generation immigrant students in these countries. Through critical dialogues with 40 youths in Toronto and Chicago, it aims to identify the challenges immigrant students face in mainstream public schools and to conceptualize an alternative school model that meets the diverse needs of immigrant youth. Using semi-structured interviews and focus groups, the study will analyze the intersectional factors affecting these students and draw on various educational philosophies to reimagine a more inclusive, responsive educational environment. This research underlines the growing importance of creating culturally diverse, inclusive, and democratic educational spaces in the face of rising immigration trends.

Author

• Soudeh Oladi, University of Toronto