The Equitable Collaboration Playbook: Using Participatory Research to Support Community Engagement Efforts toward School Integration

• In Event: Community Perspectives on School Desegregation and Integration: School Choice, Housing Mobility, and Community Engagement

Abstract

Research has demonstrated that authentic community engagement and empowered participation is a crucial factor in planning, actualizing, and sustaining integration policies and practices within desegregated schools. However, while the benefits of school integration and authentic community collaboration are clear, districts and schools require more actionable information and resources that demystify the ‘what’ and ‘how’ of this work. The Equitable Collaboration Playbook (ECP) aims to document promising practices and actionable strategies—in partnership with families, community members, and young people—that districts can use to authentically engage community and youth voices in school integration efforts. This paper will present on-going efforts of the ECP project to take a community-centered and participatory research approach to create resources and tools that aim to help school districts engage their communities in school integration efforts. The ECP project is partnering with exemplar districts to create these resources, including New York City Community School District 13 (NYC CSD 13) and Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) in Louisville, Kentucky.

Author

• Paula Dias, American Institutes for Research
  Presenting Author