​Hispanics and African Americans are the two largest ethnicities in the United States. Leaders in the field of education are stating that, with their sheer numbers alone, these two minorities will greatly influence the economic future of our nation. In spite of numerous and decade-long initiatives to increase the academic proficiency of African American and Hispanic students, huge academic achieving gaps continue to exist between Asian and White students and their African American and Hispanic peers. Voices: African American and Hispanic Students’ Perceptions Regarding the Academic Achievement Gaps is a book based on a multi-year qualitative research study that Dr. Lourdes Ferrer conducted to find out, from the students’ perspectives, the possible reasons behind these performance gaps and strategies to hopefully increase the academic achievement of African American and Hispanic students.

​Hispanics are now the largest and fastest growing ethnicity in the United States. In spite of decades of school improvement initiatives, Hispanic students continue to be outperformed by their Asian and White peers in Reading, Mathematics and Sciences in every standardized test across our nation. Based on the fact that parent involvement is the leading indicator of student academic achievement, Hispanic Parental Involvement: Ten Competencies Schools Need to  Teach Hispanic Parents, is a book that not only provides the reader with a better understanding of the Hispanic community but also clearly explains ten competencies that educators need to teach parents so they are empowered to:

• Successfully navigate the American education system,

• Monitor their children’s education, and

• Ensure that their children receive a top quality education.  

Reactions:  A Collection of Hispanic Student Essays (2013)​​

​In a time that most high in demand and high-paying degrees require students to have a strong foundation in mathematics – math mediocrity reigns in America! Hating math is culturally acceptable and avoiding math courses is the norm. Math Phobia: Strategies to Overcome Apathy and Improve Performance is the product of three distinct generations, Baby Boomer, Millennial and Z-Generation, working together to provide readers with twelve possible reasons for students’ apathy and low performance on standardized tests and twelve strategies that could help schools improve students’ attitudes and increase their math proficiency. It is Dr. Ferrer’s opinion that math should be a pump and not a filter in the pipeline of student academic success.​

Hispanic Parental Involvement: Ten Competencies Schools Need to Teach Hispanic Parents (2011)

Reactions: A Collection of African American Student EssaysBottom of Form (2014)

Books

Voices: African American and Hispanic Students’ Perceptions

Regarding the Academic Achievement Gaps (2012)​

Siéntese en la Silla del Conductor: Las Diez Competencias Para Conducir A Sus Hijos Al Triunfo Académico (2012)​

​​Researchers in the field of education have been informing school leaders and educators that parent involvement is the leading indicator of student academic achievement. When parents are involved, students achieve! Hispanic parents, especially those that have recently immigrated into the United States need to be empowered in order to play a significant role in their children’s education. Siéntese en la Silla del Conductor: Las Diez Competencias Para Conducir A Sus Hijos Al Triunfo Académico, is a culturally-relevant book that provides Spanish-speaking parents with the insight, motivation and the competencies they need to successfully navigate the American Education System, monitor the children’s education and ensure that their children receive a quality education.

College Casualties: Competencies to Avoid Becoming One (2015)

​With 80% of today’s occupations requiring post-secondary education, students are attending college in unprecedented numbers. However, we are facing a new challenge – many are becoming college casualties! They are either unprepared for the rigors of a college education and dropout or graduate with degrees that are not in demand and/or with an unsurmountable amount of debt. College Casualties: Twelve Strategies to Avoid Becoming One, is an easy-to-read book that provides students (and their parents) the awareness, insights and strategies to graduate college, debt-free and with degrees that lead to high-in-demand careers. Readers can  definitely benefit by learning how a high school student cab avoid paths that lead to academic failure, unemployment and financial burden.​

​African Americans represent the second largest minority in the United States. Sadly, after overcoming slavery, segregation and the painful process of desegregation, this ethnic group lags behind their Asian, White and Hispanic peers in core academic subjects such as reading, math and science. This is why Dr. Ferrer and many other social justice thinkers are openly stating that increasing the academic achievement and employability of the African American youth is a moral imperative! Reactions:  A Collection of Hispanic Student Essays is a book that contains not only Dr. Lourdes’ perspective regarding the African American academic achievement in USA but also a series of eye-opening essays in which high school students reacted to what they read in the book Voices: African American and Hispanic Students’ Perceptions Regarding the Academic Achievement Gaps.​

Math Phobia: Strategies to Overcome Apathy and Improve Performance (2015)

​Hispanics are now the largest minority in the United States. With their sheer numbers alone, this ethnic group will greatly shape the economic future of our nation. This is why experts in the field of economy believe that increasing Hispanic employability through education is a matter of national economic security. Reactions:  A Collection of Hispanic Student Essays is a book that contains not only Dr. Ferrer’s perspective regarding Hispanic academic achievement in USA but also a series of eye-opening essays in which high school students reacted to what they read in the book Voices: African American and Hispanic Students’ Perceptions Regarding the Academic Achievement Gaps. This book confirms and adds to what Dr. Lourdes Ferrer has learned through more than a decade of qualitative studies across our nation to find out the reasons behind ethnic achievement gaps in America.​