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July 9, 2026Social ProblemsOpen Access

Opting in or opting out? Dilemmas for parents and administrators addressing racial inequality in urban schools

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Authors

IFIdit FastNGNancy Green-Saraisky

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Overview

Ethnographic study examines how urban schools navigate standardized testing and racial equity dilemmas, indicating varied stakeholder perspectives.

Key Points

  • This research aims to understand how urban school communities respond to the challenges of standardized testing amidst racial equity concerns.
  • Conducted two years of ethnographic fieldwork (2016–2018) in two New York City public elementary schools
  • Examined the Diversity in Admissions (DiA) program and stakeholder debates regarding standardized testing
  • One school opted out of state standardized testing citing harmful effects on children and inconsistency with racial justice
  • The other school retained testing for maintaining legitimacy and organizational resources despite inequality concerns
  • Found diverse stakeholder values and community characteristics shaped decisions regarding testing and racial equity

Cite This Study

Fast et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a4f3b782b81a944af57554ehttps://doi.org/10.1093/socpro/spag043
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Also Consider

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  1. 1Same Policy, No Standardized Outcome: How Admissions Values and Institutional Priorities Shape the Effect of Test-Optional Policies on Campus Diversity2025
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  3. 3Test-Optional Policies: Impacts to Date and Recommendations for Equity in Admissions2024 · 1 citations
  4. 4Nuancing the narrative: understanding Asian American opposition to NYC’s selective high school admissions reform2024 · 2 citations
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