Schools in the U.S. are faced with a complex set of barriers that limit their ability to provide equitable and meaningful education to students, such as reduced funding levels, increased concentrations of high-needs students, and institutionalized forms of oppression. However, research suggests that school leaders can spearhead efforts to overcome…

Suburban school districts are facing new challenges due to demographic shifts. Suburban schools are shifting racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically (Kotok & Frankenberg, 2013; Wepner & Gomez, 2017). With the rise of social unrest in our country, a glaring light has been focused on the inequities in education toward children of color…

In our increasingly digitized society, where technology use is ubiquitous, nearly all activities require access to and proficiency using digital tools. Proficient internet use may lead to the pursuit of higher education, launching a fulfilling career, or part of habits and healthy lifestyles where education is lifelong and life-wide. This study…

Many district and school leaders have leveraged instructional leadership or social justice leadership to advance student achievement for minoritized students. While research has examined these approaches separately, we identify a potential gap at the nexus between instructional and social justice leadership. In particular, we find a need for…

The purpose of this study was to determine the structures and support systems implemented to foster a district educational equity and culturally responsive professional development series. In this qualitative study, an action research design team implemented a four-part professional learning series to describe the impact of an educational equity…

This qualitative study explored the development, implementation, and measurement of a district-wide equity initiative in a suburban Chicago school district. The study used a qualitative research design and the researcher as the primary instrument for data collection. The research questions used in the study were designed to document the…

The school master schedule is a structure that, when intentionally designed, can promote student access to opportunities. However, complex factors often promote the schedule as a technical process instead of one that is vital to school improvement and equity work. As student needs change, fostering leadership capacity in understanding the…

Despite the number of students and the growing diversity of the students served by rural districts, a lack of research exists on rural district systems to support the continuous improvement of schools. The lack of understanding around systems for rural district improvement stands to exacerbate long-standing inequities for rural communities. Using…

Despite the research of Chief Diversity Officers in K-12 educational setting being limited, these DEI-focused professionals have become a recent emergent practice in Connecticut school districts. Informed by the research on Chief Diversity Officers in corporate organizational and higher educational structures, this phenomenological study aimed to…

There is an epidemic of race-related suspension disparities in a local school system within the State of Maryland. Minority students are more incessantly referred for disciplinary actions and suspended at higher rates than their white peers. Research shows there are significant contributors to race-related suspension disparities. These disparate…

Providing an accessible and equitable education for all students has been an ongoing process mandated by the Managing for Equality and Equity initiative to close the achievement and opportunity gaps among students. This qualitative study examined Black superintendents' perspectives about the effectiveness and impact of diversity, equity, and…

A narrative study was used to examine the perspectives and experiences of Superintendents working toward educational justice by addressing the inequities found in schools. Data was collected through a series of semi-structured interviews representing a diverse participant pool of 23 superintendents and assistant superintendents who were currently…

This phenomenological research study explores how districts in Massachusetts support and hinder the work of professionals in the inaugural role of Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I). Through a qualitative approach, the study engaged six Directors of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion from suburban and urban school settings in…

This collective case study explores the tensions between Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports enacted at the district level and antiracist pedagogy in a medium sized school district in upstate New York. Four self-described antiracist elementary teachers participated in individual interviews and two focus groups to discuss their experiences…

Teacher retention is a critical issue for the American education system and society as a whole. Much research has focused on teacher recruitment, pathways to teacher credentialing, and factors that support teacher retention, including positive organizational conditions and administrative support. Teachers of Color make up a numerical minority in…