“It Was Really Stressful”: Rural Latine Youth Farmworkers’ Educational Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Rural Latine youth farmworkers faced many educational barriers before the COVID-19 pandemic that were exacerbated by rapid changes to schooling. In 2022, we conducted in-depth interviews with service providers (n=10) and Latine youth farmworkers aged 10–17 (n=24) to explore their educational experiences in North Carolina during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a Reflexive Thematic Analysis approach, we developed three core themes to characterize their educational challenges: (1) childcare and household responsibilities, (2) internet and technology barriers, and (3) ineffective virtual learning and school communication. Findings highlight the need to strengthen rural school preparedness for diverse student populations during future crises.