What does the development of a young person's political agency look like, and what role can schools play in this process? The authors profile Blackstone Academy, where administrators integrate social activism, community service, and other service-learning projects into the curriculum to help students develop leadership skills and confidence. The…

In order to position Black and Latinx youth to challenge racism and other dynamics of oppression, their education must be oriented toward equipping them with the requisite skills and sense of efficacy. This article makes an argument for teachers having to develop a reciprocal sense of authority rooted in their students' freedom in the face of…

Research has suggested that critical consciousness--the ability to recognize and analyze systems of inequality and the commitment to take action against these systems--can be a gateway to academic motivation and achievement for marginalized students. To explore this approach, the authors studied five urban schools that include critical…