DEFICIT THINKING AND HISPANIC STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT: SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION RESOURCES

The purpose of this study was to examine the literature that suggests that the academic gap between Hispanic and White students may be due to cultural deficit thinking. The methodology used for conducting this research was to search through databases using the following key words: deficit thinking, cultural deficit, teacher effectiveness, racism in education, student stereotyping, teacher rating of Hispanic students, and achievement gap. Examination of the theory of cultural deficit thinking was applied to the literature and thus non-significant results were obtained. Practical solutions include changing teacher dispositions through self-reflection and education, recognition of deficit thinking and its effect, communicating high academic expectations to Hispanic students, and the implementation of curriculum that demands egalitarian instruction for all students.