Educación in Our Own Terms: Survivance Amongst Latinx Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers in K-12 Schools and Beyond

“Sigo en lo Mismo”: the impact of papeles on the education of undocumented Latinx migrant and seasonal farmworkers

“…Latinx students from MSFW backgrounds face unique challenges in their educational trajectory, including high mobility (frequent moves), difficult working conditions, language barriers, grade retention and low-expectations on behalf of teachers in K-12 schools (Cranston-Gingras, 2003;Gouwens, 2001). Due to the nature of agricultural field work, many MSFWs are highly mobile as they move throughout the year to do farm work, which impacts school attendance and grade retention (Cranston-Gingras, 2003).…”

“…While the challenges to succeed in K-12 schools are many, Latinx MSFWs persist through their circumstances and navigate challenges in education (Araujo, 2012;Garza et al, 2004) with support of family and federally funded MEPs that are designed and committed to serving MSFWs and their families (Guti errez, 2022). The HEP and the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) are both MEPs.…”

“…The HEP supports MSFWs and their children to pass standardized tests of high school equivalency and earn a GED diploma and assists students to begin subsequent postsecondary education and career activities (High School Equivalency Program, 2012). Latinx MSFWs often pursue a GED in HEP as an alternative to an inequitable education in US public high schools (Guti errez, 2022). Some of the inequitable conditions in K-12 schools force Latinx MSFW youth to seek an educaci on of their own as a means of survivance in HEP (Guti errez, 2022).…”

"La Excelencia Son Los Valores": Using the Lotería Game to Understand the Foundations of Latina/o/x Excellence Cultivated at Home

“…In an attempt to draw attention to the needs, challenges, and possibilities of Latina/o/xs in education, it is vital that we not only recognize the injustices facing the various groups of Latina/o/xs but also highlight the strengths, possibilities, and examples of excellence. That is, in spite of historical and pervasive social injustices and inequalities in education, Latina/o/xs have demonstrated a level of resistance, persistence, and existence (Conchas & Acevedo, 2020;Gutiérrez, 2022;San Miguel Jr., 2003). The East Los Angeles Walkouts of 1968 are examples of resistance by Chicana/o/x students who organized and walked-out in protest of an inferior quality of education and educational inequalities faced in their East Los Angeles high schools.…”

“…The transformational resistance that took place at the East LA Walkouts is Latina/o/x excellence. Latina/o/x migrant and seasonal farmworker youth pursuing a General Education Development degree (GED) in a High School Equivalency Program as a means of survivance from the inequitable conditions of high schools is another example of youth resistance and existence (Gutiérrez, 2022). The fight for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) 2 and the California DREAM Act 3 are contemporary examples of the constant resistance and persistence of undocumented Latina/o/xs.…”