Community-School Initiative: Addressing Opportunity Gaps for Racialized and Underresourced Communities Through Educational Programs by Nonprofits

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session 1
  In Roundtable Session: Building Capacity in School and Community Alliances

Abstract

This research explores “How can community-based programming be mobilized in the COVID-19 era and post-pandemic to close opportunity gaps that impact Black, Indigenous, people of colour, and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds?” This approach goes beyond outcome-based results to examining collaborations between schools and community organizations to offer holistic interdisciplinary programs that address needs of the community and mitigate systemic inequities. The Community-School Initiative, a partnership between non-profit Youth Association for Academics, Athletics, and Character Education and Spirit of Math are presented as a case study. Data was collected via surveys and focus groups with students aged 8 to 14, parents, and teachers. Findings suggest holistic and interdisciplinary community programming can minimize the achievement gap by focusing on opportunity gap.

Authors

• Ardavan Eizadirad, Wilfrid Laurier University

• Sally Abudiab, University of Toronto

• Brice Baartman, University of Toronto