Equity in Multilingual Schools and Communities

A unique collection honouring Guadelupe Valdés’ impact in the fields of bilingualism, language teaching and equity and access in education

This book honors the impactful contributions of Guadalupe Valdés, focusing on three major areas of her work: languages and literacies in multilingual contexts, language development in schools and communities, and equity and access. Personal interludes from former students and colleagues add insight into practices of mentorship within the field.

This book honors the impactful contributions of Guadalupe Valdés toward equity in multilingual schools and communities. As one of the first language education scholars to examine the vibrant language practices of bilingual users in the US Southwest, her work marked a departure from traditional foreign language approaches and sparked a movement focused on valuing heritage languages and creating more equitable educational systems for young people from linguistically minoritized backgrounds. Influenced by the work of Professor Valdés, the contributors to this book draw on multiple aspects of her research to look at new ways of addressing equity and social justice for multilingual users in schools and communities. Chapters focus on three major areas of her work: the nature of languages and literacies in multilingual contexts, language development in classrooms and communities, and equity and access. At the end of each section, short interludes describe contributors’ personal experiences of learning from and with Professor Valdés, providing insight into the practices of mentorship and professional development within the field. This volume will appeal to students and researchers across bilingualism, applied linguistics and education, offering an overview of developments in these fields and directions for future research on equity in multilingual educational settings.