Buffering Effects of Racial Discrimination on School Engagement: The Role of Culturally Responsive Teachers and Caring School Police

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  • Additional Information
    • Availability:
      Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
    • Peer Reviewed:
      Y
    • Source:
      11
    • Sponsoring Agency:
      Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
      National Institute of Justice (NIJ) (DOJ)
    • Contract Number:
      R305A180111
      R305A150221
      2015CKBX0023
    • Education Level:
      High Schools
      Secondary Education
    • Subject Terms:
      African American Students; High School Students; Urban Schools; Well Being; Racial Discrimination; Interpersonal Relationship; Teacher Student Relationship; Culturally Relevant Education; Educational Environment; Aggression; Student Behavior; Behavior Problems; Caring; Learner Engagement; At Risk Students; Student School Relationship; Teacher Influence; Police School Relationship
    • Accession Number:
      10.1111/josh.12967
    • ISSN:
      0022-4391
    • Abstract:
      Background: Urban black adolescents' wellbeing in the early high school years can be negatively impacted by exposure to racial discrimination. These impacts may be buffered by supportive relationships with adults at school. We considered both the protective and promotive effects of culturally responsive teachers and caring school police on school engagement for students exposed to racial discrimination across settings. Method: This study leveraged baseline student report from a sample of urban, predominantly black high school students with elevated teacher-rated levels of aggressive behavior (N = 397 9th graders; 91.2% black; 50.4% male; J = 10 schools). Using a path model with full-information maximum likelihood estimation, we examined the associations of racial discrimination, teacher cultural responsiveness, and school police caring in relation to school engagement and school disconnection, adjusting for covariates, including family racial socialization. Results: Frequency of racial discrimination was significantly associated with lower school engagement and greater school disconnection. Teacher cultural responsiveness was significantly, favorably associated with all outcomes. Police caring had no significant direct associations; however, there were moderation effects. When police caring was below average, increased racial discrimination was associated with significantly poorer attitudes toward school. Conclusions: Findings suggested that students' perceptions of school police caring may buffer links between racial discrimination experiences and school disconnection. Moreover, students who perceive that their teachers are culturally responsive may feel more engaged at school. Interventions to promote teachers' and school police officers' cultural responsiveness and caring may improve engagement among at-risk urban youth who experience racial discrimination.
    • Abstract:
      As Provided
    • IES Funded:
      Yes
    • Publication Date:
      2020
    • Accession Number:
      EJ1274287