District Race Predicts Political Battles but Affluence Predicts Educational Disruptions: The Case of CRT and LGBT Issues

Qualitative studies of anti-CRT and LGBT organizing have shed light on contemporary political battles in US education. But few quantitative studies have investigated their extent and predictors. Using a nationally representative sample of school district leaders, we find that districts with majority White students had higher odds of experiencing both anti-CRT and LGBT issues. However, district affluence rather than race predicted educational disruptions like book removals and threats to educators and school boards. Notably, district location (i.e., suburban/rural vs. urban) did not predict political issues and educational disruptions, and smaller districts were less likely to experience these disruptions. Our explanation focused on racial composition, community capacity, and social cohesion contributes to understanding contemporary micro-politics of education.