[1] Starring Alexa Vega, Efren Ramirez and Michael Peña, the film was directed by Edward James Olmos.

[citation needed] Various high schools in East Los Angeles mistreat hispanic students, including handing out punishments for speaking Spanish in school, locking bathrooms during lunch, using janitorial work as punishment, and administrational dissuasion of the less promising students from attending college.

Inspired by her Chicano teacher Sal Castro and defying opposition from her father, Paula hands out surveys to students to suggest improvements to the schools.

The police find out via a student in the group and the principal threatens to expel Paula if she continues to encourage rebellion.

Paula decides to invite the students' families to the protests, hoping their presence will deter the police.

When Paula goes to Sal for advice, she discovers that Robert, who is an undercover LAPD officer, has been informing the police of the group's plans and assisted in the arrests.

An epilogue reveals real accounts from people involved in the walkouts and the subsequent increase of Hispanic enrollment in Los Angeles colleges.