This study reports on the feasibility and acceptability of a social justice infused service-learning (S-L) program to promote Black adolescent mental health and educational equity. We convened a community advisory board to help adapt and pilot test, via open trial mixed method design, an evidence-based service-learning program for Black middle…

The problem underpinning this study was a pronounced achievement gap between Black and White students, evident in standardized test score pass rates of third through fifth graders, in a school district in the U.S. state of Virginia. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the extent to which culturally responsive instructional…

Research examining reading abilities among Black children diverges significantly from prior literature, which either lacked focus or lacked substantial representation of Black children. Black students, particularly boys, tend to exhibit lower academic achievement compared to their peers. The problem addressed in this study is that Black boys, in…

Since the implementation of the legislation of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and Title I there is one group to which the achievement gap has widened: the Black male. Not only are Black males are in the lowest percentage on every marker of educational success (Kirp, 2010). Black males lead the percentages for every negative educational…

Trauma is defined as an experience that threatens the life or physical integrity of oneself or others (Enlow, et al., 2019). A significant number of school age children are impacted by trauma. According to Martin et al. (2017), two-thirds of the US child population have been exposed to some level of trauma. Although trauma affects children from…

The lack of intentional professional development for STEM stakeholders and culturally relevant STEM spaces that are inclusive of Black girls' identities in the K-12 educational system contributes to the continual widening gap of the lack of Black girls' retention and interest in science and math spaces. If this systemic problem is to be reformed,…

The lack of intentional professional development for STEM stakeholders and culturally relevant STEM spaces that are inclusive of Black girls' identities in the K-12 educational system contributes to the continual widening gap of the lack of Black girls' retention and interest in science and math spaces. If this systemic problem is to be reformed,…

This study explores educators' perspectives on educational equity and the challenges in overcoming instructional barriers. Despite the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision, an enduring achievement gap persists, particularly affecting Black students due to inadequate teacher preparation and culturally relevant knowledge. Through action…

It is widely acknowledged that there is an awarding gap in higher education, with proportionally more White students achieving a good honours degree compared to their minoritized ethnic counterparts. Furthermore, the gap is largest between Black and White students, hence necessitating initiatives to understand the perspectives of Black students on…

Academic success for Black males has been a struggle historically in comparison to other student demographics. This study sought to understand the perceptions of students, teachers and educational leaders in regards to the achievement gap and the use of Culturally Relevant Teaching (CRT) strategies. This qualitative multiple case study addressed…

Significant disparities in degree attainment rates between Black and White undergraduates at a public university in the Midwest regions of the United States have prompted concern. While these disparities are well-documented, there is limited understanding of how faculty perceive their role in fostering Black student success. This study addressed…

A concerning reality in higher education is the persistent disparity in retention and graduation rates between students of color and White students. These persistent outcome differences are commonly referred to as opportunity or achievement gaps. To address these gaps, higher education institutions are enacting targeted approaches to mitigate or…

Accounts of educational opportunity gaps for Black boys are overwhelmingly focused on later years of development. Achievement and discipline disparities are evident across their lifespan. Life course and intersectionality theories were used to develop a framework for understanding obstacles Black boys face during their preschool through high…

Achievement gaps in mathematics between middle and high school Black students when compared to their white peers exist in part because of access, but also because Black learners' brilliance is not recognized. Finding ways to help students, especially Black students, become successful mathematical problem solvers was a driving force behind this…

Despite progress over the past decade in math and reading, proficiency scores of African American boys continue to trail behind those of White, Latino, and Asian male counterparts. African American boys' reading and math disparities have been attributed to the negative portrayal and the pervasive deficit-oriented discourse about these young men.…