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The LEI mission is to improve the academic achievement and well-being of Latinx students (grades K-16) and their families from the City of Worcester. The LEI of Worcester State University offers a variety of programs for Worcester’s Latinx children, youth and their families to ensure the academic success and overall well-being in our community.
Youth received year-long academic enrichment from our dedicated LEI team
of high schoolers we served obtained honors, advanced placement, or enrolled in early college
high schoolers enrolled in early college and were mentored by LEI staff
of high school seniors we served enrolled in college
college retention among WSU students we hired as staff
of LASOS elementary girls felt they improved relationships with caregivers, school staff, and peers
of ENLACE middle school boys felt that our program creates safe spaces, builds trust and encourages effective communication
of ISLA elementary kids worked collaboratively in discussions and activities about identity, culture and relationship building
We are excited to announce that the Latino Education Institute (LEI) has received funding from UMASS Memorial for the Promotoras de Salud program. This support will enable the program to expand its health education efforts in both English and Spanish across Worcester Public Schools and community events over the next 2-3 years. The Promotoras de Salud will focus on promoting healthy eating, addressing food insecurity, and connecting the Latino community with essential healthcare services. With a deep understanding of local cultural and social factors, the team of Health Promoters will continue empowering the community through educational workshops, outreach initiatives, and partnerships with local organizations to improve health outcomes and reduce disparities.
Individuals benefited from health education provided by Promotoras de Salud
Families attended 25 engagement events focused on education and well-being
In general, the REACH Initiative was centered around five main areas:
Families received academic and social support
Adults participated in English as a Second Language (ESL) program
are more confident in applying for jobs
At the LEI of Worcester State University, we aim to effect change through expanding the body of knowledge on Massachusetts’ growing Latinx population by developing our research capacity. Our objectives include:
Critical Perspectives on Latino Education in Massachusetts (2025)
Thomas E. Conroy, Alex Briesacher, Mary Jo Marion, and Timothy Murphy
A Chance to Compete in Today’s America?: Considerations of Academic Performance, Exclusionary Discipline, and Belonging of Latinx Students in Worcester Public Schools in Lorna Rivera and Melissa Colón, Critical Perspectives on Latino Education in Massachusetts, Published by: University of Massachusetts Press
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Latine Attitudes and Knowledge About Breastfeeding (2022)
Focus Group Facilitation and Summary Berta Elena Rojas.
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Voices of Latino parents and youth of Worcester Public Schools (2020)
Over a five-day period, LEI conducted interviews of parents, students, and community members to help understand what was important to include in the conversation around a new funding stream from the state to Worcester Public Schools through the Student Opportunity Act. The act provides an important opportunity to ensure equity, excellence and success for all communities.
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Worcester Mayoral Commission on Latino Education and Advancement (2019)
The Worcester Mayoral Commission on Latino Education and Advancement’s report A Way Forward: Latino Youth and Families in Worcester (2019), was the response to Worcester community concerns about opportunities for Latinx families and equity in education. Mayor Joseph Petty appointed Luis G. Pedraja and Mary Jo Marion to lead a multisector effort resulting in this report that includes actionable recommendations to achieve equity in Latinx education. Pedraja and Marion built a commission that integrated representatives from public schools, higher education, community-based organizations, and community leaders.
Study of Latino Male Education Outcomes (2016)
Rarely do studies look to the voices of youth to confront the struggles they face. This report captures the voices of young Latino males as they reflect upon their own experiences and perceptions—and struggles—with their educational trajectories and combines quantitative data to help reveal the challenges that Latinx males in urban Massachusetts face in pursuit of education and their imagined futures. The report suggests focusing on the early education experiences of Latino males and the value of early intervention to help improve pathways to college.
Not Present, Not Accounted For: School Suspensions in Worcester (2013)
This report examines out-of-school suspension data from the Worcester Public Schools and the issues of equity in the application of school discipline policies of exclusion and suspension as well as their disproportionate application to Latinx students. The report concludes that out-of-school suspensions do not improve safety of schools or the outcomes of students, are often not age appropriate and can be replaced by other methods of discipline for better outcomes.
Mayor’s Commission on Latino Educational Excellence (2011)
This report of the Commission for Latino Educational Excellence, in response to the Worcester mayor’s charge to study issues affecting the academic success of Latino children in the Worcester Public Schools, highlights the increasing numbers of Latinx students in the schools and their chronic educational underachievement as an urgent challenge for the community. The commission focused on the collection of local data, via community hearings, best practice research, and open, honest dialogue with the administration of the Worcester Public Schools, to identify strategies for improving educational outcomes for Latino students.
The Condition of Education for Latino Students in Springfield, MA (2009)
This report examines the socio-economic characteristics of the Latinx population in Worcester and the enrollment patterns and outcomes of Latino children in Worcester Public Schools. Data about the City of Worcester and the Worcester Public schools form a detailed picture of the situation with the goal of forming a basis for creating a coherent and deliberate strategy to improve the educational outcomes of Latino students.
