School Shuttering, Racial (In)Justice, and the Fight for Equitable Educational Access

Conference: The Paris Conference on Education (PCE2022)
Title: School Shuttering, Racial (In)Justice, and the Fight for Equitable Educational Access
Stream: Education, Sustainability & Society: Social Justice, Development & Political Movements
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Authors:
Camille Wilson, University of Michigan, United States
Tonya Kneff-Chang, University of Michigan, United States

Abstract:

In this paper, authors discuss their School Shuttering and Equitable Educational Access (SEEAS) Study. This is an exploratory, comparative case study of two, predominantly Black, Midwestern school districts in the U.S. that have been dissolved by state officials or threatened with shuttering. These school closure developments are intimately connected to contemporary state policies and interventions, including many conditions that predate the COVID-19 pandemic. They are also part of the historical fight for educational access, equity, and racial justice across the U.S. As such, the SSEEAS (“sees”) study bridges historical and contemporary contexts to explore the roots, processes, and effects of permanent school and district closure. The study also examines political debate over these closures and analyzes community proposed alternatives that are designed to ensure Black students experiencing poverty can access high quality, equitable public education. Authors draw upon a range of policy and historical documents, education artifacts, funding and academic data, and ongoing interviews with educators, civic officials, youth, and other community members in their discussion. Implications of this study pertain to segregation, school choice policies, the global impact of neoliberalism, and local strategies of community resistance.

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