Achieving Equal Educational Opportunity for Students of Color

Book excerpt: Valencia presents the mostÊcomprehensive, theory-based analysis to date on how societyÊandÊschools are structurally organized and maintained toÊimpedeÊthe optimal academicÊachievement of low-SES, marginalized K–12 Black and Latino/Latina students—comparedÊto theirÊprivileged WhiteÊcounterparts. TheÊbook interrogates how society contributes to educational inequality as seen in racializedÊpatterns in income, wealth, housing, and health, andÊhow public schools create significantÊobstacles for students ofÊcolor as observed in reduced access toÊopportunities (e.g., little access toÊhigh-status curricula knowledge). ÊValenciaÊoffers suggestions for achievingÊequal education (e.g., implementing fairness of school funding,ÊimprovingÊteacher quality, and providingÊstudents of color access to multicultural education) by disrupting structural racism.ÊConsidering the rapid aging of the WhiteÊpopulation and the sharp decline of WhiteÊyouth—coupledÊwith theÊexplosive growth in people ofÊcolor—this book argues that theÊ“AmericanÊImperative” must be toÊassiduouslyÊmount an effort to provide an excellent education forÊstudents ofÊcolor, who the nation will depend on for a sizable proportion of its work force. Book Features:Examines how society and schools are failing Black and Latino/Latina students, principally Mexican Americans who are by far the largest Latino/Latina group.Uses theoretical frameworks that draw from analysis of structural inequality, critical race theory, anti-deficit thinking narratives, class-by-race covariation, and an asset-based perspective of students of color. Discusses the “American Imperative” and the personal and economic consequences of not investing in students of color.