Research Symposium

BIO

Daniella Fernandez is a first-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Finance on the Pre-Law track at Florida State University. Her academic interests center on immigration law, public policy, and advocacy for underserved communities. Through UROP, Daniella has conducted research focused on the educational experiences of refugee children and families in the school system, where she has worked with qualitative data analysis to better understand barriers to educational support and access. Her research has strengthened her commitment to using policy and legal advocacy to address inequities affecting immigrant and refugee communities. Outside of research, Daniella is actively involved in campus student life and hopes to pursue a career in immigration or public interest law.

Strengthening School Experiences for Refugee Young People, Families, and Their Teachers in Florida

Abstract

The study will examine the challenges faced by refugee children and their families as they attempt to gain access to public school education. It will examine both the barriers to educational success (barriers to success) and the ways in which assistance is provided (access to support services). Furthermore, this research will explore how education can continue to be provided to refugee children/families in the long-term (i.e., continued access to educational opportunities). The study will use a qualitative methodology that analyzes interview data collected from both refugee children and their families, in order to identify similarities and classifications among the interview sample as it relates to barriers to educational success (including, but not limited to, language barriers, lack of access to resources (both at home and in school), and the challenges faced by families as they try to establish themselves in new school settings).



By coding and analyzing the interviews' data, we will look for evidence of the impact of Institutions and Structures on Educational Outcomes for Refugee Learners. It is expected that the results of this study will contribute to the body of literature about Educational Equity, but more importantly, they will be used to improve Interventions, Policies and Procedures in support of Refugees and Immigrant Families with regard to their children’s education. Furthermore, this study will provide an example of how Research can be utilized as a tool for Advocacy and to improve inclusive educational practices.

Keywords: Refugee, Education, Immigration