The Path to Successful Education for Hispanics: Early Childhood Development through Higher Education

ABSTRACT

As the U.S Hispanic population has increasingly grown throughout the years, the growing population has indicated that there will be change in the makeup of the cultural fabric of the country. The Hispanic population growth has led to the increase in numbers of English Learner (EL) students in both private and public schools in the U.S. which has subsequently led to the need to adapt and improve the U.S. education system for EL students. As the transformation in our counties cultural fabric continues to change the same change needs to be reflected on the student’s education. This narrative will explain and rationalize the pedagogical practices that are in place to improve and embrace multilingualism and multiculturalism in education from early childhood development to higher education. The narrative found that a key indicator that influences the success of Hispanic students is early childhood development and education, this includes having access to necessary resources, being in culturally stimulating environment and training in English proficiency. The narrative also found that early education should not be limited to just schools but also needs the cooperation from the student’s family and cultural centers. If early childhood development is not established the student will not be on the same level as other students and will be attempting to catch up to the education level other students are at. As the student gets older practices such as the ones being practiced in early childhood development should expand throughout the student’s education.

KEYWORDS:

• English learner students
• Hispanic population
• early childhood development
• Hispanic higher education

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).