Sade Bonilla, assistant professor in the College of Education, Thomas S. Dee of the Graduate School of Education at Stanford, and Emily K. of the School of Education at the University of California, Irvine. Penner, researched long term. Effects of Ethnic Study Needs which were recently published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.
In one California school district, 9th graders with a grade-point average of 2.0 or lower were automatically enrolled in an ethnic studies course. Research has shown that enrollment in ethnic studies significantly increased the likelihood of high school graduation, attendance, and college enrollment.
Prior to this study, there was little causal evidence supporting a positive educational impact of ethnic studies. “A central contribution of our work is the causal evidence that anti-racism pedagogy and curriculum fostered engagement and persistence in the school,” Bonilla said.
The team studied the records of nearly 1,400 students in San Francisco, Calif., where the Board of Education approved an ethnic study requirement in 2010 for 9th graders who are struggling academically. Following their academic journey through both local and state records, the team found that low-income students and students of color enrolled in ethnic studies courses had improved academic outcomes.
The team found that students were more likely to enroll in college after graduating from high school.
The Ethnic Studies curriculum, based on anti-racist principles, is designed as a rigorous, college-prep curriculum that focuses on culturally relevant and critically engaging material relating to social justice, anti-racism, stereotyping and contemporary social movements. emphasizes. In general, ethnic studies courses focus on the history of historically marginalized communities, promote students’ critical awareness of social issues, and encourage civic engagement and community-responsive social justice. , said Bonilla.
It helps students learn about the various ethnic histories and contributions of non-white ethnic groups. Proponents say it gives students a better sense of who they are and a sense of belonging in the larger American community.
“The current debate about critical race theory is regrettably dishonest and politically driven,” Bonilla said. “There is overlap between theory and ethnic studies in that the curriculum uses a critically aware and historical perspective of past events and the systems we have today.”
While interest in anti-racism education has grown, it has remained politically controversial, the researchers note. They say that anti-racism curricula and teaching methods represent a way for schools to better promote a just society and improve educational outcomes for low-income and students of color.
Bonilla said, “Our results point to this approach, which has a significant impact on students’ high school graduation and college enrollment, economic success and educational attainment on other socially relevant outcomes such as civic engagement and mental health.” Given the relevance is critically important.”
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