Date of Award

2021

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Education (Ph.D)

Department

Administrative and Instructional Leadership

First Advisor

Anthony Annunziato

Second Advisor

Richard Bernato

Third Advisor

Randall Clemens

Abstract

In this phenomenological, qualitative study, the researcher analyzed the lived experiences of Latin American immigrant students in the current school culture in Long Island schools. The purpose of this analysis was to identify a relationship between the school culture and social structure with the academic advancement and overall development of these students. The primary data was collected through individual interviews with the participants. Following a snowball method of research, the participants were carefully selected to represent demographically the general Latin American immigrant population on Long Island, and they included high school graduates and nongraduates to arrive to an effective conclusion. In addition, this method was intentionally selected to provide a direct assessment from this specific student group of the impact that the most current educational reform has made in the enhancement of the school culture, and the students’ academic attainment and development.

The literature reviewed in this study revealed that the Latin American student immigrant population is currently the larger immigrant group in Long Island schools. Therefore, the insight obtained from this study will be significant and will serve as a guide for school agents at the local and the state levels in their decision-making process and future creation of programs. In addition, Banks’ multicultural education, theoretical framework guided this analysis and study to determine the current level of readiness of the school culture to embrace the academic, ethnic, cultural, and linguistic diversity represented by Latin American immigrant students.

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