Title: Latino experience in small learning communities in Worcester, Massachusetts
Author: Smith, Jennifer L.
Date: 2005
Description: Master’s Paper, Clark University, Department of International Development and Social Change
This paper examines Latino student experience in small learning communities (SLCs) within the larger public high school setting in Worcester, Massachusetts. The aim of the small learning community approach is to narrow the achievement gap between Latinos and other ethnic groups. To explore the perceptions of Latino students to this new approach, the author uses the responses from in-depth interviews with twenty two Latino students in seven different SLCs. The research demonstrates that a changing school culture associated with SLCs has the potential to narrow the achievement gap for Latino students especially if the Worcester public schools share information about positive practices working well within SLCs across the district.
Keywords: Latino students, public high school, education, school performance, Small Learning Communities (SLC),
Cataloged by: Selina Sikder/ B. J. Perkins