There Goes the PTA: Building Parent Identity, Relationships, and Power in Gentrifying Schools

Modes of Belonging: Debating School Demographics in Gentrifying New York

“…Newcomer parents are routinely offered (or create for themselves) opportunities to become “involved” and influence school policies and practices. As a result, the resources that these families bring to their new school are frequently dedicated to priorities that long-time school community members may not share (Cucchiara, 2013; Freidus, 2016; Posey-Maddox, 2014; Stillman, 2012; Syeed, 2019). Posey-Maddox et al (2014) posit that an increase in middle-class families within an urban school frequently—although not inevitably—results in school gentrification.…”

“…As they talked about integration, segregation, and gentrification, stakeholders’ comments reflected varying and often conflicted narratives about whether, why, and how student demographics matter (Abu El-Haj, 2006; Dumas, 2009; Pollock, 2005). These racialized narratives influence public perceptions of diversifying schools, perceptions that have profound implications for how district administrators develop and implement policies related to school choice and student assignment, how parents join and participate in diversifying school communities, and how school leaders negotiate families’ competing priorities (Cucchiara, 2013; Diem, Holme, Edwards, Haynes, & Epstein, 2018; Posey-Maddox, 2014; Quarles & Butler, 2018; Siegel-Hawley et al, 2016; Syeed, 2019; Turner, 2015).…”

“…Modes of Belonging district administrators develop and implement policies related to school choice and student assignment, how parents join and participate in diversifying school communities, and how school leaders negotiate families' competing priorities (Cucchiara, 2013;Diem, Holme, Edwards, Haynes, & Epstein, 2018;Posey-Maddox, 2014;Quarles & Butler, 2018;Siegel-Hawley et al, 2016;Syeed, 2019;Turner, 2015). Much of the research to date on school gentrification examines the role that ''advantaged families in disadvantaged contexts'' play in influencing school policies and practices (Posey-Maddox, Kimelberg, & Cucchiara, 2014, p. 447).…”

Modes of Belonging: Debating School Demographics in Gentrifying New York

“…Newcomer parents are routinely offered (or create for themselves) opportunities to become "involved" and influence school policies and practices. As a result, the resources that these families bring to their new school are frequently dedicated to priorities that long-time school community members may not share (Cucchiara, 2013;Freidus, 2016;Posey-Maddox, 2014;Stillman, 2012;Syeed, 2019).…”

“…how parents select and participate in diversifying school communities; and how school leaders negotiate families' competing priorities (Cucchiara, 2013;Diem, Holme, Edwards, Haynes, & Epstein, 2018;Posey-Maddox, 2014;Quarles & Butler, 2018;Siegel-Hawley et al, 2016;Syeed, 2019;Turner, 2015).…”