2-058 - Diverse Outcomes of School Diversity for Boys of Color: Findings from the Boys of Color Collaborative

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

Diverse schools are believed to foster equitable educational opportunities and prepare students to thrive in our diverse society (Orfield, et al., 2014), yet research suggests that school diversity is associated with negative perceptions of peer racial climate (Benner & Graham, 2013) and increased racism (Seaton & Yip, 2009) for students of color. Conversely, the presence of same-race peers is positively associated with school racial climate and with social and academic outcomes (Benner & Graham, 2009; 2013). This symposium explores the benefits and challenges of school diversity with a specific focus on boys of color.

Paper 1 finds that school diversity and the presence of same-race peers relate to reduced gaps in Black and White males’ perceptions of a supportive school climate. Paper 2 also focuses on school climate, showing that incongruence between school and peer diversity is associated with more vulnerability for Black males’ peer networks. Paper 3 finds that White students are perceived more favorably by peers in the transition from elementary to middle school regardless of school diversity, while Black students are perceived less favorably when remaining in racially balanced schools or transitioning from majority Black to racially balanced schools. Finally, Paper 4 proposes a theoretical model of world views about race and schooling. Boys, Black students, and students moving into more diverse schools are more likely to endorse a negative world view, which partially explains achievement disparities between White students and students of color. Discussion will focus on the benefits and risks associated with school diversity.

Sub Unit

• Education, Schooling

Chairs

• Joanna Lee Williams, University of Virginia

• Kristina L McDonald, University of Alabama

Individual Presentations

• School Racial/Ethnic Diversity: Contextual Influences on Experiences of School Climate among Black and White Adolescent Boys - Presenting Author: Jessika Bottiani, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; Catherine P Bradshaw, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health

• Interactions Between School and Peer Ethnic Diversity: Implications for Black Male Youths’ Network-level Perceptions of School - Presenting Author: Joanna Lee Williams, University of Virginia

• Changes in Black and White Students’ Peer Relations over the Transition to Middle School: Does School Racial Composition Matter? - Presenting Author: Joan M Barth, University of Alabama; Kristina L McDonald, University of Alabama; John E Lochman, Univ of Alabama; Carolyn Boxmeyer, University of Alabama; Nicole Powell, University of Alabama; Casey Elizabeth Dillon, University of Alabama; Meghann Lucia Sallee, University of Alabama

• School Ethnic Diversity and Adjustment of Adolescent Boys of Color - Presenting Author: Sandra Graham, University of California, Los Angeles