Congratulations to Leilah Austin-Draitser who on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, successfully defended her dissertation proposal.
The title of Leilah's dissertation is, "IN THEIR OWN WORDS: THE STORIES BLACK FAMILIES TELL ABUT RACIAL MOTIVATIONS TO HOMESCHOOL."
The abstract of this study follows:
Overview of Problem: Anti-Black racism has shaped the public education system; Black families are responding. Many Black families are using their school choice right to homeschool their children, rather than stay in traditional schools. While reasons for this vary, many Black families name racism as their fundamental reason for homeschooling.
Research Purpose: The purpose of this narrative inquiry is to understand the motivations of Black families who have identified racism as the fundamental basis for homeschooling and to understand what these parents perceive as necessary for traditional schools to serve Black students better. Drawing upon Critical Race Theory as the theoretical lens, this study seeks to illuminate the role that race and systemic racism play in parents’ decisions to opt out of traditional (public) schools and their vision for more equitable schooling.
Research Design: This qualitative study will use a narrative inquiry approach, grounded in Critical Race Theory.
Sample: A purposive nationwide sample of 8 Black homeschooling families who identify racism as the primary motivation behind their decision to homeschool.
Data Collection: Data will be collected through one or two semi-structured, in-depth interviews using an interview protocol designed to encourage rich dialogue and sharing of experiential stories.
Dissertation Chair:
Dr. Joanne Marien
Dissertation Committee Members:
Dr. Martin Fitzgerald
Dr. Lynn Allen
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