Advancing or Inhibiting Equity: The Role of Racism in the Implementation of a Community Engagement Policy

Abstract

Governmental policies in the United States and beyond increasingly call for school leaders to involve local communities in decision-making, yet engagement practices have often centered the perspectives of White parents and marginalized the voices of racially minoritized families. In this comparative case study of seven school districts, we draw on critical race theory to explore how race and racism shaped district practices under a statewide community engagement policy. Our findings suggest that, without careful attention to racial power and privilege, the implementation of community engagement policies may promote racism in practice, highlighting the need for culturally responsive approaches to engagement.