This document discusses educational access for Mexican immigrants in both Mexico and the United States. It notes that there are institutional barriers in both countries' education systems that make it difficult for Mexican children to succeed. These children and their families experience negative impacts as they face issues like low literacy rates in Mexico, dangers from the drug war, and lack of access to higher education due to undocumented status in the US. The document examines programs in both countries aimed at improving educational opportunities for this population.

1. EDUCATION AND
MEXICO-UNITED STATES
IMMIGRATION:
EDUCATIONAL ACCESS
FOR ALL?
Heather Mangione, Clark University

2. Thesis & Research Statement
 There are a number of institutional barriers in
place within both the Mexico & United States
education systems that make it nearly
impossible for Mexican children to succeed
 Both the United States and Mexico experience
a negative rate of return from these children as
they grow into labour-able adults.

3. Mexico & The Mexican Education
System
 Mexico is the 5th largest country in the Americas
and the 13th largest nation in the world.
 The current population is estimated to be 112
million people (2011).
 97% literacy rate for children under age 14
 91% literacy rate for adults over 15
(www.unesco.org)

4. Indigenous & Migrant Education in
Mexico
 The National Council for Life and Work (Consejo Nacional
de Educación para la Vida y el Trabajo, CONEVyT)
 Establish community plazas throughout the country
where adults participate in continuing education
certification programs and literacy/numeracy programs
for free (Flores-Moreno, 2008).
 A significant percent of the country’s population did not
receive an education past grade 9 (Secundaria)
 Many citizens are migrant farm workers and are not only
illiterate but trained only in agricultural work
 CONEVyT strives to provide higher-level technological
computer training and skills to adults all over Mexico and
does target adults in rural areas.

5. The U.S.-Mexican Drug War and
Educational Access
www.npr.org

6. Mexico-U.S. Immigration

7. U.S.-Mexico Immigration:
Educational Access for Children
 Undocumented status issues
 Plyler vs. doe (1982): Undocumented
children can attend public school
through high school
 Mixed-status families live in fear
 Transnational parenting

8. U.S.-Mexico Immigration:
Educational Access for Children
(cont’d)
 Institutionalized
racist sentiment in
schools
 Anti-immigrant
sentiment
 Deficit model

9. Young Adults, Immigration &
Educational Access
 DREAM Act
 Access to higher
education
 Institutional barriers
in place to bar
undocumented
students to
participate in higher
education

10. Education For All Goals (2000)
 1. Expand early childhood care and education
 2. Provide free and compulsory primary
education to all
 3. Promote learning and life skills for young
people and adults
 4. Increase adult literacy by 50 percent
 5. Achieve gender parity by 2005, gender
equality by 2015
 6. Improve the quality of education

11. Immigration-based NGO in the
U.S.
• Immigrant Child
Advocacy
• Home Studies Project
• Deportation Issues
Counseling & Safety
Protection

12. Immigration-based Non-Profit
 Mexican
Educational
Foundation of NY
 Focus on young
adults
 Projects/Activities
 After-school
program
 Mentorship program