Beyond the Headlines: Trends and Future Directions in the School Closure Literature

• In Event: Losing a Place Called School: Meanings, Consequences, and Trends of School Closures in Historic Communities

Abstract

Despite widespread attention to school closures in popular media, the scholarly literature is relatively limited. Authors conducted a literature review on U.S. school closures, finding three notable trends. First, the majority of scholarship is on urban school closures with little attention afforded to rural or suburban contexts. Secondly, when subpopulations of students impacted by closures are discussed, discussions tend to focus on the crucial issue of racial inequality; ELL students and students receiving special education are rarely discussed. Finally, while there is considerable attention paid to the ways that parents and community members respond to closures, there is less focus teachers, students, and principals. Authors address how these observations can meaningfully inform a research agenda on school closures going forward.

Authors

• Eve Louise Ewing, University of Chicago

• Terrance L. Green, The University of Texas at Austin