Chapter 1

Facts Poor reading ability contributes to academic disengagement and dropping out of school (Reschly, 2010). Almost half of students in the top 50 urban districts in the United States quit school, severely limiting their ability to work and earn a livable wage (Swanson, 2009). Black, Hispanic, and foreign-born students are more likely than non-Hispanic Whites to drop out of school; in 2009, 5% of Whites, 10%of African Americans, 18% of Hispanics, and 21% of students born outside of the US have dropped out of school (US Census Bureau, 2009). One in ten male high school dropouts is in jail or juvenile detention, compared with 1 in 35 high school graduates (Dillon, 2009).

Hint, Hint: What did you learn in Human Awareness and Multicultural Awareness? What is privilege and who has privilege? Does everyone have equal access to privilege?

How is literacy social equity? How is literacy an instrument for social equity? Students who fall through the cracks are students whose literacies and languages are different in those that are valued in schools. Factors that contribute to this: Poverty and its impact on family stability and access to resources Inequitable funding for schools Differences between school and home discourses and practices Teaching and curricula that bypass and invalidate students’ needs and strengths University programs that fail to prepare teachers to serve these students A general societal acceptance that some students will fail while others succeed.

{Literacy Handout} How do teachers make differences in their students lives?