The study of culturally relevant pedagogy (CRP) within a social and emotional learning (SEL) program is timely as it supports the increasing body of literature on narrowing the educational gaps prevalent among Black students. Current research is lacking regarding if and how educators utilize CRP to support the learning of SEL competencies with…

Within this research study, a qualitative phenomenological approach was used to explore the lived experiences of Black master's students (n = 10) who engage in mentorship in CACREP-accredited counselor education programs. The participants in this study represent different ACES regions in the United States, including SACES, NARACES, and NCACES. Six…

This action research emphasizes the need to implement curricula to engage marginalized students as well as promote literacy and high levels of academic achievement. Marginalized students include minority students who perform far below their White peers on state assessments. In Chapter I, the action research problem of practice is explored. The…

Supported by Critical Race Theory, this study explores the perceptions of African-American medical students regarding their racialized experiences while attending medical school. The history of African Americans seeking medical education in the United States is entrenched in a legacy of racial segregation, social and cultural constructs, and legal…

The disparity amongst African American males in education has been a major concern for educators and policy makers nationwide for many years. Though various researchers have made implications to precisely correct the issue, African American males still perform significantly behind their peers. This dissertation examined how one of the most…

The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine if implicit bias among Indiana educators might affect the identification of gifted Black students for programming. Educators, within school districts with high minority populations, were asked to provide a demographic survey and then take the Implicit Association Test (IAT). Survey data were…

Teaching reading to children from minoritized communities in ways that are both effective and meaningful is demanding and complex work. It requires educators to integrate their knowledge of (a) the various skills involved in reading, (b) assisting children to learn to read, and (c) the everyday sociocultural practices and identities of young…

Culturally relevant differentiated curriculum is not a new topic in institutions of higher education; however, the perceptions that Black/African American students have of culturally relevant curriculum is under-explored. The problem addressed in this research project is the lack of Black/African American student perceptions that educators…

The purpose of this quantitative study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the LearnEd Notebook curriculum when used with two groups of eighth-grade African American male students in teaching science. More specifically, the researcher sought to determine if there was a correlation between the utilization of the LearnEd Notebook Science curriculum…

Between 1890 to 1910, African American physicians outnumbered Whites by three to one. In 1910, the Carnegie Foundation published Abraham Flexner's Report to standardize medical educational settings in the U.S. and Canada. Flexner's Report recommended reducing the number of poorly trained physicians and inferior medical schools by implementing…

For too long, Black children's educational needs have not been prioritized with attention to their culture, language, historical and contemporary racialized experiences, and building their positive racial identity. It is critical that early childhood education settings for young children be transformed to be a place of learning and healing by…

One of the most discussed topics in the education space is the achievement gap. More specifically, research has looked at the achievement gap between African American students and White students, which despite gains, has continued to widen (US Department of Education, 2019). Even though there is widely-cited research on the achievement gap, it…

There is extensive research on the racial disparities of Black students receiving exclusionary disciplinary consequences (Welch et al., 2002; Fenning & Rose, 2007; Fowler, 2011; Skiba et al., 2011; Skiba et al., 2014; Hirschfield, 2018). Khalifa et al. (2016) stated "the principalship is also the most recognizable position in a school,…

Ill-defined behaviors related to emotional disturbance (ED) classification and a lack of cultural competence have contributed to the over-representation of Black children in special education. Several meta-analyses and systematic reviews of the literature have been conducted to examine the topic of over-representation, but to date, there remains…

School Resource Officers (SRO) are sworn-in police officers; however, while performing the job functions of an SRO they must adhere to the Memorandum of Understanding between SRO and the school in which they are employed. This study explored the perceptions of school administrators on the job functions of SROs within a particular school and how…