Institutional Care in Urban High Schools

• In Event: Creating and Sustaining Positive School Communities

Abstract

The importance of establishing caring relationships between students and teachers in closing achievement gap has been well documented. While the literature on caring in school environments has primarily focused on in-classroom behavior and on one-on-one student-teacher interactions, this paper explores the utility of the concept of caring at the institutional level. Using a mixed methods approach, this paper explores the relationship between institutional caring and the academic motivation, academic residency and future educational aspiration of Students of Color in 5 urban California high schools. With over 3,000 student surveys, this research identifies educational strategies that enhance educational outcomes for Students of Color.

Authors

• Robert Cooper, University of California - Los Angeles

• Ryan Edward Santos, University of California - Los Angeles