Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-27-2025
Abstract
This article examines local experiences of the national attack on district equity work intended to better support Students of Color and LGBTQ+ students over the 2020–2022 school years. Drawing on theory on zones of mediation and interviews with over 70 district “equity directors” (EDs) nationally, I analyze how together national, state, and local pressure led to district equity “shutdown.” Forms of district equity shutdown included censoring equity-focused communication and language, eliminating district equity-focused programming or personnel, and restricting books and learning resources, with 40% of EDs reporting at least one form of district equity shutdown.
Recommended Citation
Matschiner, A. (2025). P–12 district equity “shutdown”: Equity directors’ experiences amid anti-equity organizing, 2020–2022. Urban Education. https://doi.org/10.1177/00420859251382198
Peer Reviewed
1
Copyright
The author
Included in
Disability and Equity in Education Commons, Educational Administration and Supervision Commons, Other Education Commons, Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education Commons
Comments
This is a pre-copy-editing, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in Urban Education in 2025 following peer review. This article may not exactly replicate the final published version. The definitive publisher-authenticated version is available online at https://doi.org/10.1177/00420859251382198.