"This is Not Who We Are": Students Leading for Anti-Racist Policy Changes in Alexandria City Public Schools, Virginia. Issue 1 (January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mansfield, Katherine Cumings; Lambrinou, Marina
• Other Names: Welton Anjalé D. guest-editor.; Mansfield Katherine Cumings guest-editor.; Salisbury Jason D. guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Educational policy. Volume 36:Issue 1(2022)
• Page Start: 19
• Page End: 56
• Publication Date: 2022-01
• Subjects: racism -- student voice -- community activism -- education policy -- politics of education; Education and state -- United States -- Periodicals; Education -- Periodicals; 379.2
• DOI: 10.1177/08959048211059214
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0895-9048

Abstract

This paper centers the voices of students who successfully struggled alongside justice-minded school board members and other concerned citizens to create anti-racist policy changes in Alexandria City Public Schools, Virginia. Specifically, we examine the history behind, and political processes involved with, changing the names of two local schools due to the racist political commitments of their namesakes. Lessons learned include the need to carefully structure the policy change process to include students, families, and other community members in critical dialog and amplify the voices of those most impacted by the structural racism that needs to be dismantled: The students.