Eric.ed.gov – Latinas/os in Community College Developmental Education: Increasing Moments of Academic and Interpersonal Validation

This qualitative study examines the experiences of Latinas/os in community college English and math developmental education courses. Critical race theory in education and the theory of validation serve as guiding frameworks. The authors find that institutional agents provide academic validation by emphasizing high expectations, focusing on social identities, and improving academic skills. The authors conclude by conceptualizing a critical race validating pedagogy to implement among students who place in community college developmental education courses. [This Scholarly Paper was commissioned for the 9th Annual Conference of the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education, 2014. Appendix A, “Levels and Descriptors of Developmental Education Math and English Courses at Case Study Site” is not included in the ERIC version of this report.]