Cracks in the Schoolyard—Confronting Latino Educational Inequality

In Cracks in the Schoolyard, Conchas challenges deficit models of schooling and turns school failure on its head. Going beyond presenting critical case studies of social inequality and education, this book features achievement cases that depict Latinos as active actors—not hopeless victims—in the quest for social and economic mobility. Chapters examine the ways in which college students, high school youth, English language learners, immigrant Latino parents, queer homeless youth, the children of Mexican undocumented immigrants, and undocumented immigrant youth all work in local settings to improve their quality of life and advocate for their families and communities. Taken together, these counternarratives will help educators and policymakers fill the cracks in the schoolyard that often create disparity and failure for youth and young adults.

Contributors: Nancy Acevedo-Gil, Alejandra S. Albarran, Edelina M. Burciaga, Leo R. Chavez, Gilberto Q. Conchas, Isiaah Crawford, Cindy Cruz, Briana M. Hinga, Eduardo Mosqueda, Leticia Oseguera, Louie F. Rodriguez, Kip Téllez, and Irene I. Vega

“Conchas’ provocative and compelling case studies in education position him once again as a leading voice in challenging commonsense notions of Latino school failure.”
—Kris D. Gutiérrez, professor of Education, University of California, Berkeley

“Conchas has provided readers with an important gift: authentic stories, authentic struggles, authentic strategies, and authentic success. This work debunks the deficit discourse around Latina/o education with a complex analysis of how race, community strengths, and identity become assets for educational excellence. The cases presented are rich, powerful, compelling and inspiring. Essential reading for social justice advocates!”
—Tyrone Howard, professor of Education at the University of California, Los Angeles and author of Why Race and Culture in Matters in Schools

“In this groundbreaking volume Conchas ushers in a new paradigm for understanding Latina/o student achievement. The authors in this volume collaboratively and compellingly demonstrate the importance of understanding Latina/o educational achievement by analyzing assets and agency in the lives of youths and their families. This volume provides educators, policymakers, and scholars the critical hope and pragmatic agenda for developing a more just educational system—the authors cogently teach us to identify and understand the plethora of contributions that Latina/o students make to our educational system on a day-to-day basis.” 
—Victor M. Rios, professor of Sociology and author of Punished