ERIC Number: EJ1171535
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018-Mar
Pages: 28
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0042-0972
EISSN: N/A
African Immigrants, the "New Model Minority": Examining the Reality in U.S. K-12 Schools
Ukpokodu, Omiunota N.
Urban Review: Issues and Ideas in Public Education, v50 n1 p69-96 Mar 2018
African immigrants in the U.S. have been headlined as America's "new model minority." The purpose of this paper is to examine if evidence exists to support the claim of African immigrant students' (AIS) educational achievement and excellence (a core indicator of the "model minority" theory) in U.S. k-12 schools. Using a multiple methodological research approach and analysis, the study examines whether aggregated and disaggregated data exist to verify AIS' superior academic achievement in U.S. k-12 schools. The study reveals a lack of data to substantiate the claim. Instead, the study reveals a paucity of research on AIS' academic performance and achievement in k-12 schools, as well as academic underperformance and underachievement, and the challenges that exist. The notion of a "model minority" attributed to African immigrants is disingenuous and a disservice to AIS in U.S. k-12 schools. The paper discusses significant implications and recommendations for policy and practice that include overhauling the data collection and reporting system, data disaggregation for AIS, debunking the African immigrant "model minority" ascription, preparing culturally responsive and globally competent teachers, and increasing research on AIS in k-12 schools.
Descriptors: Immigrants, Blacks, Models, Minority Group Students, Academic Achievement, Elementary Secondary Education, Educational Research, Educational Practices, Educational Policy, Underachievement, Data Collection, Cultural Awareness, African Culture, Teacher Education, Research Needs, Teacher Effectiveness
Springer. 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-348-4505; e-mail: service-ny@springer.com; Web site: http://www.springerlink.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A