Citizen Attitudes Toward a Federal Ban on Critical Race Theory in Schools

• In Event: Racial Equity, Justice, and Democratic Education in the United States

Abstract

In 2021, Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) introduced Senate Bill 2346, entitled the “Stop CRT Act,” which sought to place limitations on federal funds given to educational institutions teaching “race-based theories”. This study employs a mixed methods approach to understand citizens’ beliefs and attitudes towards teaching CRT in public schools. Preliminary quantitative results using logistic regression find gender, race, socioeconomic status, and political affiliation predict the likelihood of supporting legislation aimed at stopping CRT in public schools. Preliminary qualitative results provide three overarching themes from those who support a federal ban of teaching CRT in schools: colorblind racial attitudes, parental rights, and individual responsibility.

Authors

• Richard Blissett, University of Maryland - Baltimore County

• Kourtney Clark, University of Georgia

• Mohona Mandal, University of South Carolina

• Roberto Ortiz, Indiana University

• Catalina Macedo Giang, University of Georgia

• Romee Maitra, University of Georgia