School and Community Engaged Education in Lower Income Neighbourhoods Dr. Sarah E. Barrett Donna Ford
The Problem Students in Families with Low Incomes do not do as well as other students academically Poverty in the Greater Toronto Area is racialized Academic underachievement for poor, racialized students is complex and resists simple solutions
The Context 4 schools in northwest Toronto High poverty, high levels of crime High drop out rate Negative media scrutiny
Local Background Research Urban Diversity Strategy Toronto District School Board Greater Trouble in Greater Toronto: Child Poverty in the GTA Children’s Aid Society of Toronto Roots of School Violence Roy McMurtry and Alvin Curling
Collaboration University Researchers Professors Seconded teachers and principals Teachers Community Groups Parents Students This research is designed to be a grassroots, generative process
Integrating Research and Practice School Effectiveness In what ways are schools responsive to students to effect equity of outcomes for all learners? Student learning & student engagement Assessment & Evaluation Curriculum & Instruction
Integrating Research and Practice School Effectiveness: A Wider View Warren, Anyon Neighborhood-centered perspective Community wellness = school wellness Delpit Families provide ‘cultural primer’
Challenges Teachers as reflective practitioners in time-bound work environments Knowledge, skills, dispositions Understanding our biases as educators, how our biases inform what we do
Challenges School leaders identifying, sustaining practices responsive to the school- community culture Ideological alignment Pushing the learning agenda forward Rethinking responsibilities between school & community
Next Steps… working with teachers to operationalize our shared vision of an engaging curriculum identifying current practices in each school identifying areas for focus in each school setting up parameters for cooperation among teachers, parents, students, and community members