This study examines parental involvement practices, the cultural wealth, and school experiences of poor and working-class mothers of Black boys. Drawing upon data from an ethnographic study, we examine qualitative interviews with four Black mothers. Using critical race theory and cultural wealth frameworks, we explore the mothers’ approaches to supporting their sons’ education. We also describe how the mothers and their sons experienced exclusion from the school, and how this exclusion limited the mothers’ involvement. We highlight their agency in making use of particular forms of cultural wealth in responding to the school’s failure of their sons.

Drawing upon the authors' experiences working in schools as teachers, teacher educators, researchers, and community members, this study utilizes a Critical Race Theory of education in examining the school-to-prison pipeline for black male students. In doing so, the authors highlight the particular role educators play in the school-to-prison pipeline, focusing particularly on how dispositions toward black males influence educator practices. Recommendations and future directions are provided on how education preparation programs can play a critical role in the transformation of black male schooling.A significant body of literature on the life outcomes of black males examines how school practices and policies file children out of educational environments and into the criminal justice system

Despite national statistics that suggest declining African American and Latino student achievement, few schools accept the challenge of educating the neediest students, and even fewer succeed. This phenomenological study examined the experiences of and strategies employed by three principals of urban schools that effectively educate traditionally underserved students. Contrary to instructional leadership practices, these principals limited opportunities for teachers to share in the decision-making process regarding school operation and leadership, instead expecting teachers to concentrate on classroom instruction as the priority. Additionally, these principals focused and nurtured teachers’ personal and professional characteristics to enhance the quality of instruction at their particular schools.

Cultivating primary students' scientific thinking through sustained teacher professional development

This research is a collection of comparative case studies that examine the perspectives of four principals in their 1st year of implementing the High School College Collaborative (HSCC), which works to provide traditionally underserved high school students with the opportunity to receive college credit, possibly an associate of arts degree, concurrently with their high school diploma. In this research, we address the following questions: (a) What are the principals' experiences with implementing HSCC? (b) What are the specific challenges these principals face? and (c) How did the principals negotiate these challenges? This study aims to broaden perspectives on the requirements of school change work, thus increasing both principals' effectiveness and learning opportunities for all students.