A site of resistance and/or reclamation? The role of the Black church in the charter school movement

• In Event: A Critical Examination of Public Scholarship on K–12 Racialized Contexts

Abstract

This study seeks to understand the role a Black church plays in the creation of a community based charter school, in shaping Black parents’ perceptions about the charter school movement and in helping Black parents navigate the school choice landscape. A predominantly Black church in the southeastern United States was identified as having created a charter school, and consequently was selected for participation in this study. Interviews, observations, and survey data are the basis of analysis. The findings of this study hold major implications for helping Black parents navigate a school choice environment that all too often tries to marginalize them and limit access.

Author

• Danielle Allen, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill