Critical race theory

The Fountas and Pinnell Leveled Literacy Intervention System (LLI), first edition, is a textbook series designed for struggling elementary school readers. The materials have become entrenched in the nation’s schools and are currently utilized as an intervention resource in all fifty states and four of the seven largest school districts in Florida. Reading intervention support is a requirement for students in most states, often due to their performance on standardized assessments (Diffey, 2016). Moreover, NAEP data indicates that students of color are overrepresented in reading intervention courses; thus, instructional materials choices made for these courses disproportionally affect this population (The Nation’s Report Card, n.d.). As culturally relevant texts are academically beneficial, it is critical that intervention materials are appropriately representative (Aronson & Laughter, 2016; Au, 2001; Sampson & Garrison-Wade, 2011). The purpose of this qualitative critical content analysis of the 731 books within the LLI system was to examine the cultural, ethnic, and racial representation of people/characters of color within the series.
Major findings revealed that people/characters of color were depicted from a deficit model (Ladson-Billings, 2018). Coded information revealed 41.5% included a negative characterization while 7.6% offered a positive portrayal. Further, the books exploring the experiences and cultures of people/characters of color depicted undesirable conditions 25.7% of the time while presenting favorable information 2.5% of the time. The final finding centers on what is missing from the stories. Other than a select few texts, the LLI books are colorblind, presenting students an inaccurate view of society. Accordingly, counternarratives and stories that center on social justice/equity are notably absent.

Having an effective teacher in a school is paramount because they significantly influence student achievement (Shaw & Newton, 2014). Not having this vital resource contributes to the achievement gap between White and minority students. This phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of ten principals with hiring and retaining teachers for schools with a large percentage of minority students from low-income households who also struggle academically. All principals share a common experience – they receive a federal grant, Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF), which is additional funding for bonuses to hire and retain teachers and provide professional support. The study includes research that provides context to the factors that contribute to the teacher shortage problem within schools with this specific student demographic and the way in which this impacts the inequitable distribution of qualified instructors. The research also contains literature which informed the study's theoretical framework - Critical Race Theory and Theory of Oppression and the concepts of leadership practices, asset-based thinking, and teacher motivation.
The researcher found that the principals experience anxiety filling vacant positions due to teacher shortage. There were three prominent themes that framed the findings: Hiring Teachers, Retaining Teachers, and Teacher Shortage. Principals experience challenges with employing teachers because of their negative perceptions of the students. Most of the teachers they hire are Black and Hispanic, and the Teacher Incentive Fund grant did not help attract teachers to accept a position, but it helped retain them. The principals work arduously to keep teachers by giving them support and creating a positive school culture, in addition, most of them find that Black and Hispanic teachers remain at the school more than White teachers.

This phenomenological study examined the experiences of Black male alumni in higher education to gain an in-depth understanding of the aspects that facilitated or impeded their desire to persist to degree completion. This study situated the internal and external aspects that supported or inhibited Black male persistence. And, this study examined how Black male alumni navigate race and racism in higher education. Critical race theory (CRT) is used in this study to examine the lived experiences of Black male alumni at predominately white institutions (PWIs) in higher education. The focus on alumni aids in implementing an anti-deficit approach to highlight Black male success. Anti-deficit research rejects the perpetuation of at-risk research, which presents Black males as incapable of thought production, lazy, criminal and violent. Instead, an antideficit approach illuminates Black male academic achievement and is strategic in replicating success for future Black male collegians. This approach was deemed necessary to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of Black male alumni at PWIs.

In 2016, Colin Kaepernick, the former starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, unknowingly bartered his athletic aspirations by exercising his First Amendment Right to freedom of expression. Frustrated with what he and many others perceived as pervasive extrajudicial tactics of law enforcement and a seemingly incessant lack of accountability from the American legal system, Kaepernick silently protested by sitting during the playing of the National Anthem. Although, Kaepernick's actions begun as a singular, almost imperceptible act, he has ultimately redefined the significance of taking a knee, and etched his name in a long list of other malcontents in the struggle for racial equality in America. The purpose of this study is to explore in detail one of the most polarizing components of the Black Lives Matter Movement (BLM) and Black Social Protests in the United States. Analysis of social media content will argue the value of the Kaepernick "Anti Flag/Anthem" Protest, from a communication-cultural perspective.