Reclaiming Educational Dignity: Experiences of Latine Students in Adult Secondary Education Programs
Date of Award
6-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Publisher
Santa Clara : Santa Clara University, 2025
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Abstract
Latine students are disproportionately represented in California Adult Secondary Education (ASE) programs, reflecting broader systemic issues in the K-12 school system. Despite this disparity, limited research has centered the voices of Latine adults who return to school to earn their high school diploma. This study, Reclaiming Educational Dignity: Latine Student Experiences in Adult Secondary Education, addresses this gap by exploring the educational journeys of Latine students who re-engage with formal schooling through ASE programs after being pushed out of traditional high schools.
Using an explanatory mixed methods design, the research integrates survey data and in-depth interviews to examine students’ prior educational experiences in K-12, their perceptions of ASE, and their transitions beyond completion. Findings reveal that systemic failures in K-12 education, including a lack of support, trust, and protection as well as alternative school placement, played a significant role in students’ initial disengagement from school. In contrast, ASE programs served as sites for reclaiming educational dignity, where students drew on their cultural wealth, found affirming support from educators and community members, and saw a high school diploma as a source of new hope. While the students reported an overall positive experience, they also identified limitations, including a lack of culturally relevant curriculum and insufficient post- graduation transition support.
This study applies Critical Race and LatCrit theories in conjuction with adult learning theory of Andragogy to examine the intersection of race, identity, and adult education. It challenges deficit narratives about Latine students and highlights their resilience, offering important implications for educational leaders seeking to strengthen adult educational pathways and design more equitable, culturally sustaining learning environments.
Recommended Citation
Casto, Carrie Breyo, "Reclaiming Educational Dignity: Experiences of Latine Students in Adult Secondary Education Programs" (2025). Social Justice in Educational Leadership EdD Dissertations. 19.
https://scholarcommons.scu.edu/ed_dissertations/19
