In the 1980s and 1990s, state governments began to take over local school districts in cities across the United States. After decades of local resistance to state control, communities are beginning to make strides in their efforts to regain local control. This paper examines local- and state-level stakeholders' perceptions of the return to local…

Concerns from scholars about the exclusion of People of Color in children's literature began in the early 20th century and continues today. The lack of children's literature about People of Color is even more alarming in the contemporary moment, when Children of Color comprise a significant proportion of urban schools throughout the U.S. Only…

Using Critical Race Theory (CRT) as a guiding conceptual framework, this qualitative study examines black students' and parents' perceptions of school discipline and its impact on academic achievement. The findings support the notion that out-of-school suspension has a negative impact on the academic achievement of African American students and…

This study is a response to calls for more research on diversity in teacher leadership (TL), particularly in urban schools. Critical race theory illuminated the role race and racism can play in determining who gets access to TL positions and how that access is characterized using liberal discourse and ideology. We used a component mixed methods…

There is a growing emphasis on social justice pedagogy as a predominantly White teacher labor force infiltrates classrooms in urban schools. Using "critical race theory" (CRT)--and the construct of interest convergence--this study examines how White teachers working in an urban school apply and enact teaching for social justice during…

As attacks on critical race theory continue, anti-Black violence remains normalized, with schools often unwilling to transform toward racial healing. Sharing narratives from urban school-based practitioner projects, the authors conceptualize an applied critical race theory systems change model. After clarifying four tenets to guide teacher…

This qualitative study was a critical race analysis of Advanced Placement criteria and under-enrollment of African American males in two midwestern urban high schools. Analysis of faculty interviews and documents generated four themes. AP criteria and enrollment were implemented through formal and informal practices, and key roles of individual…

Social studies has been lagging in the race to gain classroom instructional time due to the impact of high-stakes testing in urban schools. Furthermore, social studies can be particularly uninteresting to Black students whose diverse sociocultural histories and perspectives remain diminished or absent. Therefore, this paper advances curricular and…

Diversifying the student body in teacher education programs (TEPs) remains an elusive goal. Despite recruiting efforts, few men of color complete programs leading to teaching credentials. To problematize this phenomenon, this study examines the experiences of three men of color enrolled in a predominantly White teacher education program (PWTEP).…

While instructional inequity persists throughout U.S. schools, urban schools serving students with a wide array of out-of-school factors that affect their schooling are especially challenged to ensure that Black and Brown students receive what they need to learn as consistently as white students do. Critical race theory helps explain why this…

This paper describes the relationship between student identity, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and risk for receiving calls home for problems in school. Data are drawn from the 2017 to 2018 National Survey of Children's Health (n = 4,579). Critical race theory and QuantCrit were used to frame the study and analysis. Findings reflect that…

School discipline disparities for African American students in urban schools continue to be a topic of contention. While research has rightfully called into question the practices and preparation of teachers and principals, the role that assistant principals serve as disciplinary gatekeepers has gone relatively unnoticed in the literature. The…

This paper examines how Black first-generation college students (FGCS) involved in a participant photography project describe their sense of belonging at historically white institutions (HWI). Using visual and narrative data from a qualitative study of 20 Black FGCS at private HWIs, the paper examines their experiences with the campus racial…

This research aims to contribute to understanding what criminalization for boys of color looks like in urban elementary school settings and to offering insights into what we must do to disrupt criminalization in urban schools. Using multiple sources of data from four elementary schools across a 2-year period, we found that boys of color in the…

As tension between China and the United States continues to escalate, little research has looked into how geopolitical conflicts impact the Chinese Diasporas in these two nations. Filtering his life through empire and AsianCrit, the author illustrates his racializing encounters with empires in educational institutions and the larger Chinese and…