Leadership and Policy Studies: Inequalities and Ed Policy

Examines how the institution of education has historically created, maintained, and has also challenged inequalities. Explores this in relationship to race, ethnicity, immigration, social class, gender, LGBTQIA+ issues, and disability, among others, covering key readings in history and theory as well as key court cases and movements for equity.

Online synchronous course; Open to Degree and PACE students

This course will examine how the institution of education has historically created and maintained, but also challenged inequalities. We will explore this in relationship to race, ethnicity, social class, gender, LGBTQIA+ issues, and disability, among others, covering key readings in history and theory as well as key court cases and movements for equity. The course will also provide you with an opportunity to consider how policies can impact inequalities and sometimes either inadvertently or by design exacerbate them but also how communities resist inequalities and demand more from education. Such critical analysis of educational policies and practices will provide insight into how to continue the educational goals of equity while also understanding the complicated impact of intersectional diversities, communities, and movements.

We will be exploring policies, court decisions, research-based reviews and critiques of policy implementation as well as articles aimed at community partnerships, leadership strategies, teacher-led interventions and challenges, and student agency and activism. In addition, you'll also note that there are a wide variety of approaches to research here some of which are based in historical examination of primary documents, some that analyze historical documents, some in conversation with empirical evidence and theory, some using theory and narrative approaches. As you think about your final group equity policy project consider using a range of documents, evidence, and aims (offering better policy, showing ways to move policy into practice through leadership, curricula, pedagogy, partnerships, etc.)

Critical analysis of readings, critical writing abilities, and ability to move from critique to complex problem solving in relationship to inequalities and educational policy will all be key to successfully completing class assignments, contributing to class discussion, and building toward critical policy analysis projects.