Literature Review Emerging Themes and Gaps
Themes in Background Literature
The Background Literature for My Dissertation Points to Several Recurring Themes of Enduring Inequalities, Shaped by Socioeconomic Status, Race, and Immigration Status. Reinforcing the Importance of Culturally Responsive Pedagogy (CRP) and Critical Race Theory (CRT) as My Analytical Frameworks.
Another Theme Was the Critical Importance of Family Engagement and the Ways Authentic Partnerships Between Families and Schools Can Mitigate Some of the Disparities in Students Educational Outcomes.
Areas to Pursue
One Area Needing More Investigation Is The Nuanced Perspectives of Families Themselves. Especially How They Navigate, Interpret, and Resist Systemic Barriers.
Gaps in Background Litrature
One Notable Gap I Found is The Limited Empirical Research on How District Level Policies Either Support or Hinder Culturally Affirming Practices at the School and District Level.
Few Studies Deeply Explore How Families' Counter Stories Challenge the Institutional Narrative of "Equity Progress."
Surprises and Expectations Not Fully Met
What surprises Me the Most About These Gaps is The Underemphasis on Direct Family Voices. There is Also a Noticeable Disconnect Between Calls for "Community Driven" Solutions and the Scholarly Attention Given to Family Centered Methodologies.
One Expectation I Had That Was Not Fully Met Was the Finding of Recent Literature Connecting Transformational Leadership Practices Directly to Tangible Shifts in Equity Outcomes as Perceived by Families.