Chapter 11: Science as Springboard: Promoting Science Achievement and Aspiration among Latino English Language Learners in the Secondary School

Latino students, particularly English Language Learners (ELLs), are severely underrepresented in the sciences at the post-secondary level. These students often receive mixed messages regarding post-secondary education. Those messages encourage students to work hard, to become college eligible, and to be confident about college admissions, funding, and higher education outcomes, while often simultaneously implying that they are not welcome, will not be admitted to higher education institutions, and indeed are taking slots away from more “deserving” students, especially in science. This chapter describes outcomes for student participants in a school–university partnership summer science enrichment program for ELLs. Student outcomes included increased interest in and motivation toward the pursuit of post-secondary education, increased interest in science, and development of academic language.