Taking an Equity Lens: Reconceptualizing Research on Latinx Students’ Schooling Experiences and Educational Outcomes

Abstract

Previous research has expanded our understanding of Latinx students’ schooling and outcomes in many ways, but current knowledge fails to appreciate nuances associated with the constantly evolving Latinx population. In many cases, schools are ill prepared to serve these students. I offer recommendations for developing a robust knowledge base on the education of Latinx students and the roles that schools play in perpetuating or ameliorating inequities. Specifically, I discuss strength-based perspectives and the expansive diversity of the population as concepts that are essential to framing research and interventions that aim to improve education for the Latinx student population. I review the empirical evidence on achievement outputs and key features of the school opportunity gap—segregation, discrimination, family-school partnerships, classroom teaching and learning, and instruction language use. Finally, I propose implications for developing equity-oriented reforms to support the continuous improvement of Latinx students’ education.