Racing to Education Opportunity: Resolutions of K–12 Racial Harassment
Complaints, 2011–2024
Spencer Foundation - $50,000
What is the main goal or focus of the project?
The project examines how K–12 racial harassment complaints are investigated and resolved under Title VI, identifying patterns in leadership practices, institutional responses, and policy conditions associated with successful outcomes.
Why is this grant important?
This grant supports timely, policy-relevant research that addresses a longstanding gap in understanding how civil rights complaints are resolved in schools, providing evidence that can inform leadership practice, compliance efforts, and
institutional decision-making.
institutional decision-making.
Who is involved in the project?
The project is led by Dr. Wei-Ling Sun, with support from graduate research assistants trained in qualitative and comparative research methods.
What excites the team about this grant?
The team is excited to analyze a national set of OCR cases to generate actionable insights for educational leaders and to contribute rigorous empirical evidence to an underexamined area of education policy and leadership
Additional context on grant competitiveness:
The award was made in an exceptionally competitive cycle marked by national reductions in education research funding. Applications nearly tripled this year, while the number of funded projects remained unchanged, placing this project among a highly selective group.