To say that there is a need for social justice is to assume that there is inequitable access to resources and unequal distribution of power (Golightly et al., 2017). Resources are needed for LGBTQ+ college students to achieve higher success rates in their programs of study ("LGBTQ+" stands for "lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender,…

Social work ethics oppose discriminatory practices and policies, yet little is known about social work students' awareness of such discrimination. In some U.S. states, education policies discriminate against undocumented youth and recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, by limiting access to higher education or imposing prohibitive…

This policy memo examines some fundamental shifts, along with their real-world implications, within the past 60 years of Supreme Court jurisprudence, up to and including the current "Carson v. Makin" case. The Supreme Court is just a few small steps away from transforming every charter school law in the U.S. into a private-school voucher…

This study aims to compare the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on international students in Japan and the United States based on a framework that shows the influence of government policies and university responses on international students' experiences and choices. Analysis of 494 survey responses indicates significant differences between international…

LGBTQ+ students have worse academic and health outcomes than their heterosexual counterparts, and these disparities increase when taking race/ethnicity into account. 57% of Latinx LGBTQ+ students report feeling unsafe at school due to their gender expression, and 35% are more likely to miss school due to feelings of unsafety. This fact sheet…

This District of Columbia Public Schools School Year 2020-2021 "Parental Right to Know Guide" informs parents on their rights with regard to the following: (1) Notice of Non-Discrimination and Non-Retaliation; (2) Teachers and Paraprofessionals; (3) Student Achievement (PARCC Data); (4) Student Records; (5) Unsafe School Choice Option;…

In gifted education, an important and contentious issue that has yet to be sufficiently addressed is the systemic underrepresentation of gifted students who have been discriminated against in school-based gifted and advanced learner programs because of their race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or other…

In this paper we discuss the connection between the lack of special education specific preparation for leaders and decades of evidence of racial inequities in special education. In doing so, we have a four-fold purpose. First, we outline the basic Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) legal requirements that educational leadership…

This study analyses student and parental perspectives on the decision to drop out from a rural junior high school in northeast China. Data were collected in 2017 via participant observation, focus groups with students who were considered at "high risk of dropping out", and semi-structured interviews with parents. The official Chinese…

American schools have been dealt a blow that included a pandemic, economic crisis, as well as racial unrest, initiating an energized charge for social justice advocacy. Our superintendents are currently facing an unprecedented challenge in ensuring that the campus community lives in a fair, inclusive, and opportunity-rich society. However, school…

Very little is known about the complaint investigation process in the Office for Civil Rights, despite its scope and reach. We examine key parameters (number and types of complaints received, types of resolutions, average time of resolution) of civil rights complaints nationwide over a 20-year period (1999-2019). We find that 10%-40% of all…

Throughout the past decade, scholars have argued that the persistent achievement gap between Black male students and their White peers is a result of unequal and inadequate educational opportunities instead of inherent differences in their capability or character. School counselors can help support Black males by using equity-focused…

Educational choice programs--defined broadly as programs that provide parents with financial aid to help their children opt out of the traditional public school system--are a hallmark of meaningful educational reform. Yet despite widespread news coverage of such programs, polls show most Americans are unfamiliar with how educational choice…

The full GLSEN 2021 National School Climate Survey report includes information on LGBTQ middle and high school students' experiences, including: (1) Hearing biased language, from both students and educators; (2) Experiences of harassment and assault; (3) Anti-LGBTQ discrimination; (4) Effects of a hostile school climate on educational outcomes and…

This is the executive summary for the report, "The 2021 National School Climate Survey: The Experiences of LGBTQ+ Youth in Our Nation's Schools." The full GLSEN 2021 National School Climate Survey report includes information on LGBTQ middle and high school students' experiences, including: (1) Hearing biased language, from both students…