Degree Name
EdD (Doctor of Education)
Program
Educational Leadership
Date of Award
12-2016
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Virginia Foley
Committee Members
John Boyd, Pamela Evanshen, Pamela Scott
Abstract
Although public education in the United States has had remarkable growth and improvement since its beginning, significant inadequacies concerning racial equity continue to cast a shadow on the system. Despite desegregation efforts and specific attention to providing integrated school settings there has been little progress in establishing educational justice. The purpose of this case study was to uncover perceptions about racial inequity within Asheville City Schools as well as potential facilitators of equity. A qualitative case study using 10 guiding research questions was conducted to evaluate the perceptions of parents as well as educators at Asheville City Schools Preschool regarding racial inequities and potential facilitators of equity. Transcripts from a Racial Equity Photovoice Project were used to identify perceptions of the presence and the impact of racial inequity as well as assets of, barriers to, and potential facilitators of equity. Findings indicate parents and educators agree that barriers of racial equity include elements of negative societal influences, antiquated educational policies and procedures, inapt curricula and instruction, external systems that perpetuate biases, meager funding structures and poor home-school connections. Further, findings indicate parents and educators agree that diverse student bodies and faculties, culturally and social-emotionally relevant curricula and instruction, positive relationships between educators and children, and authentic 2-way communication are potential facilitators of racial equity. Overarching themes incorporate concerns related to resources, mandates, personal narratives, and relationships. This research adds to the literature related to racial equity and has implications for practice as well as future research.
Document Type
Dissertation - unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Meskil, Dawn M., "A Study of the Perceptions of Racial Equity in One Early Childhood Education Program" (2016). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 3151. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/3151
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.
Included in
Educational Leadership Commons, Educational Sociology Commons, Elementary and Middle and Secondary Education Administration Commons, Inequality and Stratification Commons, Other Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons, Pre-Elementary, Early Childhood, Kindergarten Teacher Education Commons, Race and Ethnicity Commons, Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education Commons