A Tale of Three Cities: Parent Activism and School Reform in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia

• In Event: Roundtable Session 15

Session Type: Roundtable Session

Abstract

This symposium is designed to highlight the voices of parent activists in education research and provide an opportunity for researchers to fully engage parents as partners in the creation of knowledge, theory, and innovative education policy. Parent activism has the ability to influence education policy as parents engage city and district officials when challenging inequities observed in urban public schools. This session challenges researchers to consider incorporating the voices of parents or directly partner with parents in research that centralizes parents’ experiences in the struggle for equity-focused education reform. Parent activists from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia share critical narratives about their organizing efforts for educational justice.

Sub Unit

• SIG-Grassroots Community and Youth Organizing for Educational Reform

Chair

• John S. Rogers, University of California - Los Angeles

Papers

• Organizing Parents for Social Justice in Inner-City Schools: A New Urban Model of Parent Engagement - Mary Johnson, Pepperdine University

• Austerity Measures and City Schools: Parent Narratives of Organizing Against Massive School Closings and Budget Cuts - Helen Gym, Parents United for Public Education; Jeanette Taylor-Smith

• Chicago School Closings: A Qualitative Inquiry of Parent Engagement in an Urban Education Policy Context - Rhoda Freelon, Spencer Foundation