Building Democratic Schools With Local Stakeholders: Systemic Transformation and Expansive Learning at an Urban Middle School

• In Event: Civic Actors in Democratic Spaces: Engaging Processes and People

Abstract

This paper reports a qualitative analysis of the implementation of Learning Lab at an urban middle school, Rogoff Middle School. Learning Lab is a formative intervention that creates organizational change at the school level by bringing together historically marginalized families, community members, and school staff in a problem solving team. Collaboratively, the Rogoff Learning Lab explored racial disproportionality in disciplinary actions at their school. Through this exploration they then created a culturally responsive school discipline system. We will present how the Learning Lab facilitated a democratic and productive process of problem solving. We will explore challenges and opportunities for sustaining and expanding ongoing systemic transformation to address disproportionality at the school and district level.

Authors

• Aydin Bal, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• Kemal Afacan, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• Rebekka S Olsen, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• Tremayne L. Clardy, Madison Metropolitan School District

• John Harper, Madison Metropolitan School District

• Halil Ibrahim Cakir, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• Dian Mawene, University of Wisconsin - Madison