The Role of State Standards Committees in Challenging or Maintaining Color-Evasive Social Studies

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session Four
  In Roundtable Session: Racecraft and Racial Realism in Social Studies Education (Table 8)

Abstract

In this qualitative study, using critical race theory, researchers examined the experiences of social studies standards committee members. They found that while many participants volunteered to serve on committees to increase the teaching of race and racism in their state’s standards, numerous structural barriers existed to maintain the status quo through color-evasive standards. A smaller group of participants generally avoided advocating for topics of race and racism altogether due to their perceived controversial or political status, while others did not mention race or racism at all. Recommendations are made for both the policy and practice of state standards creation, and questions are raised about the ability of social studies standards to foster racially just curriculum.

Authors

• Christopher C. Martell, University of Massachusetts - Boston
  Presenting Author

• Lauren McArthur Harris, Arizona State University
  Presenting Author

• J'Shon Lee, Arizona State University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Jennifer Chalmers-Curren, Boston University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Jami Carmichael, Arizona State University
  Presenting Author