(PEW Hispanic Center, 2012) While the Latino population continues to grow, on average the educational attainment of the Latino community continues to lag behind that of the rest of the nation. The differences in achievement gap between Hispanics and non-Hispanics begin as early as kindergarten and continue through high school (Schhneider B, Martinez S, Ownes A., 2006, p.). The recent attention on Latino educational attainment and career identity brings to forefront not only questions about equal opportunity and education attainment gaps, but also the impact that these gaps have on our national economy (Castaneda-Flores, 2013, p.), and the implications of K-12 public schools to provide comprehensive career development for a diverse student population. The failure of educational policies to effectively address the unique challenges of Latino students, as it relates to attainment of career decision-making self-efficacy skills, within the educational system makes it unlikely for Latinos to achieve postsecondary educational success and therefore to improve, overall in socioeconomic status
(PEW Hispanic Center, 2012) While the Latino population continues to grow, on average the educational attainment of the Latino community continues to lag behind that of the rest of the nation. The differences in achievement gap between Hispanics and non-Hispanics begin as early as kindergarten and continue through high school (Schhneider B, Martinez S, Ownes A., 2006, p.). The recent attention on Latino educational attainment and career identity brings to forefront not only questions about equal opportunity and education attainment gaps, but also the impact that these gaps have on our national economy (Castaneda-Flores, 2013, p.), and the implications of K-12 public schools to provide comprehensive career development for a diverse student population. The failure of educational policies to effectively address the unique challenges of Latino students, as it relates to attainment of career decision-making self-efficacy skills, within the educational system makes it unlikely for Latinos to achieve postsecondary educational success and therefore to improve, overall in socioeconomic status