There is an epidemic of race-related suspension disparities in a local school system within the State of Maryland. Minority students are more incessantly referred for disciplinary actions and suspended at higher rates than their white peers. Research shows there are significant contributors to race-related suspension disparities. These disparate…

After decades of advancement in education equality, a disproportional number of racially minoritized students are placed in special education. Addressing the disproportionality is a complicated issue due to various contributing factors. One possible cause is racial bias from teachers who rate problem behaviors of African American boys for special…

The development of anti-racist ideology in adolescence and emerging adulthood is informed by parent socialization, parenting style, and cross-race friendships. This study used longitudinal, multi-reporter survey data from White youth and their parents in Maryland to examine links between parents' racial attitudes when youth were in eleventh grade…

Research on cognitive bias explains how our brains are prone to stumble, overlooking key points of data. This article discusses how this phenomenon can help us understand why we often stumble in assessing the state of campus race relations, overlooking ways that White students self-segregate. In contrast, students of color have high rates of…

Background/Context: A sense of belonging in school is a complex construct that relies heavily on students' perceptions of the educational environment, especially their relationships with other students. Some research suggests that a sense of belonging in school is important to all students. However, we argue that the nature and meaning of…

This paper examines student cross-group relationships in a comprehensive high school in Baltimore County, Maryland, between 1985 and 2000. The findings of this research, situated at the intersections of three lenses of inquiry--oral historical analysis, ethnography, and critical studies--bring to light how institutional norms, broader demographic…

This paper presents the result of a statewide survey conducted by the Survey Research Center at the University of Maryland for the Governor's Task Force on Extremism and Violence. The Task Force was commissioned in response to an increased number of reported incidents associated with racial, ethnic, or religious bigotry. The survey was intended to…

If universities and colleges are to provide an optimal education for students from all cultures and backgrounds they should examine the relationships among their students. Since there has been an increase in black freshman enrollment at large universities from three percent in 1969 to four percent in 1970 and institutions are preparing students…

A study was conducted to determine the effects on school employees in Rockville, Maryland, of an in-service training program studying ethnic groups in America. The study gathered data on school employees before and after enrollment in the course in order to measure changes in knowledge of ethnic groups, racial attitudes, classroom practices, and…

A study was conducted to determine the effects on school employees in Rockville, Maryland, of a black experience and culture in-service training program. The study gathered data on school employees before and after enrollment in the course in order to measure gains in knowledge, attitudes, and behavior. Tables show program participants' change in…

Problems in measuring the attitudes of whites toward blacks have included: (1) Lack of contemporary content in existing measures; (2) Difficulty of determining scale validity; and, (3) The strong social reinforcement for being "tolerant" toward blacks making the assessment of "true" racial attitudes more difficult. The…

The attitudes of 1114 white university students toward blacks were compared by sex, using the Situational Attitude Scale (SAS). The SAS contains 10 personal or social situations where race might be a variable in reacting to the situations. For each situation, ten bipolar Semantic Differential scales were written. The SAS was administered…

This packet of resource materials was compiled to help teachers infuse the study of Afro-American history and culture into the curriculum throughout the school year. The packet contains both informational materials and sample activities. In order to assist teachers in studying the Afro-American experience in their own communities, special emphasis…

The football program at DeMatha High School in Hyattsville (Maryland), illustrates ways in which a sports program can build unity and racial tolerance among students. The shared team effort carries over into schoolwork and life outside of school. (SLD)

The measurement of racial attitudes in contemporary America is presented with some serious methodological obstacles. In an attempt to eliminate these obstacles, Sedlacek and Brooks developed the Situational Attitude Scale (SAS) to measure the attitudes of whites toward blacks. It includes two Forms, A and B. The effects of the same individual…