District Race Predicts Political Issues but Affluence Predicts Educational Disruptions: On CRT and LGBT Issues

• In Event: Investigating the Impacts of Gender and Sexual Orientation on Policy

Abstract

Qualitative studies of anti-CRT and LGBT organizing have shed light on contemporary political battles in US education. To complement, our quantitative study draws on a nationally representative sample of district leaders and highlight four ideas: (1) We distinguish between the salience of political issues and organized action that leads to educational disruptions. (2) Although district racial composition predicted anti-CRT and LGBT issues, district affluence predicted disruptions like book removals and threats to educators and school boards. (3) These issues and disruptions happened similarly across urban, suburban, and rural areas. (4) Smaller school districts were less likely to experience disruptions. Taken altogether, we highlight the importance of community capacity and cohesion—in addition to racial composition—in understanding the contemporary education.

Authors

• Jonathan Jacob, Brandeis University

• Jose Eos Trinidad, University of California - Berkeley