When parents united: A historical case study examining the changing civic landscape of American urban education reform

Esa Syeed, Pedro Noguera

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

In this article we explore recent history to uncover the role that public engagement has played in the effort to reform America's urban schools. In the place of narratives that focus on elite actors (foundations, unions, corporations, etc.), we focus on the role of local stakeholders. Specifically, we look to how the changing political context (policy agendas and governance structures) of urban school systems has shifted possibilities for communities to participate in determining the direction of reform efforts in urban school systems. Through interviews and archival research, we examine the case of a single parent-led advocacy organization, Parents United for the D.C. Public Schools. Established in 1980 and remaining active until the late 1990s, Parents United developed a broad-based vision of educational equity and had a significant impact on the local public school system during that time. We show that in the current political and social context of education reform, communities may derive important lessons from Parents United while also devising new strategies for public engagement.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)127-144
Number of pages18
JournalJournal of Social Science Education
Volume13
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2014

Keywords

  • Education reform
  • Public engagement/activism
  • Urban education

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Education

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