Out-of-School Time Contexts and Consequential Research: Exploring Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy and Literacy Instruction in One Collective Impact Initiative

• In Event: Race, Policy, Equity: Retooling Out-of-School Time Programs, Partnerships, and Evaluation for 21st Century Learning

Abstract

This paper explores how out-of-school-time programs in one large midwestern city, draw on culturally sustaining practices for literacy instruction with children and youth. The study examined how one collect impact initiative brought together various stakeholders to promote equity and access to literacy development with a specific focus on the ways OST programs positioned students’ knowledge and lived experiences as central to learning. Survey data and interviews conducted with 11 OST programs, revealed that OST organizations understood the importance of the relationship building that underlies culturally sustaining practices. However, all of the organizations demonstrated a need for support to deepen their knowledge of the communities they worked with and how a culturally sustaining pedagogy can promote equitable access to literacy learning.

Authors

• Christina P. DeNicolo, Wayne State University
  Presenting Author

• Kathryn Roberts, Wayne State University
  Presenting Author

• Poonam Arya, Wayne State University
  Presenting Author

• Ben Pogodzinski, Wayne State University
  Presenting Author