College-Ready

This book will support teachers, counselors, and administrators in creating a culturally relevant, school-wide, college-going culture to improve educational experiences and outcomes for Black and Latina/o youth. The authors present the perspectives and experiences of 25 students, focusing on the complexities of their daily lives and illuminating some of the significant influences that have supported or hindered their college readiness and access. They situate issues of college access in a national context, provide insight into who and what influences youth’s college-going processes, and engage readers in critical analysis to create culturally relevant policies and practices within their own school contexts.

Book Features:

• Important research findings of a four-year study in a public high school with critical reflection questions.
• Links between culturally relevant pedagogy and college readiness and access.
• “Teacher Responses” that connect the contents of each chapter to the author’s experience working with youth.
• “Reading in Action” sections for professional development with individuals, small groups of educators, and whole school communities

Michelle G. Knight is an associate professor at Teachers College, Columbia University, and a former middle-school teacher and high school college advisor. Joanne E. Marciano is a doctoral candidate and research associate at Teachers College, Columbia University, and a high school English teacher.

“An essential resource for practitioners, researchers, and scholars seeking to galvanize an urgent social justice agenda in education.”

—Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy

“The authors suggest creative new directions for policies and practices.”
—Chance W. Lewis, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

“I am mightily impressed. This is one of the few studies to jointly address educational issues of African American and Latina/o youth.”
—Luis C. Moll, University of Arizona

“I urge all who are concerned about the educational well-being of both Latina/o and African American youth to read this book.
—From the Foreword by Ronald S. Rochon, University of Southern Indiana

2017 "Must Read" by the Center for Urban Education (CUE) at the University of Pittsburgh