Respondents or Partners? One California School District’s Conceptualization and Approach to Black Family Engagement

• In Event: Representing Black Student and Family Voices in Family, School, Community Partnerships

Abstract

Adoption of the Black Student Success Initiative was an historic first step taken in the Revere Unified School District (a pseudonym) to dismantle the ongoing underachievement and mistreatment of Black students in the district. This study explores how district staff leading implementation of the initiative conceptualize and cultivate Black family engagement. The findings reveal the desire and understanding district staff have to partner with families, but in reality most interactions frame families as respondents (Latunde & Clark-Louque, 2017). This study highlights the opportunities district staff have to cultivate engaged partnerships with Black families.

Authors

• Diana A. Porras, California State University - Long Beach

• Cassidy McCoy, California State University - Long Beach

• Kealia Hudson, California State University - Long Beach