Contaminated Spaces: Fenceline Schools and Environmental Racism in Detroit and Houston

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 8:00 a.m. Four Seasons Ballroom 2-3
  In Roundtable Session: Examining School and Neighborhood Environments: Storytelling, Urban Education, and Climate Justice (Table 11)

Abstract

Despite documented links between pollution exposure and reduced academic performance, no federal regulations prevent schools from being sited near environmental hazards. As a result, over 12,000 U.S. schools are located in fenceline communities, where millions of children are exposed to toxic chemicals and other pollutants. In this paper, we conduct a critical policy analysis of the environmental and educational policies that enabled the siting of two fenceline schools in Detroit and Houston, which we interpret as instances of environmental racism. We find that government agencies and industry officials circumvented accountability for environmental harm and used education-centered community benefits projects to placate community concerns, resulting in the continued devaluation of marginalized communities and the reproduction of unequal opportunity structures.

Authors

• Daniel Dawer, University of Texas at Austin

• Tyra Timm, University of Texas at Austin