Education
Richmond public school graduation rates have been decreasing significantly, being just over 70% due to increasing child poverty and economic instability. Education remains one of the biggest public policy challenges in the United States. The University of Richmond's Department of Education offers students the opportunity to minor in Teacher Education or Education and Society, and there are numerous ways to explore education through programs and partners of the Bonner Center for Civic Engagement. This page is a resource for all learners who are interested in education.
Featured Community Partners
Richmond Public Schools
The district serves nearly 24,000 students, representing the region's diverse socioeconomic mix. Richmond Public Schools (RPS) is comprised of 25 elementary schools, including one charter school, seven middle schools, five comprehensive high schools and three specialty schools.
Peter Paul Development Center
The Peter Paul Development Center (PPDC) is the oldest continually operating community center in Richmond's East End. PPDC's mission is to support the residents of the East End and educate its students, equipping them to serve as positive contributors to their family, community, and society. The center offers programs for children ages 8 to 18, seniors and their families.
Youth Life
The Youth Life Foundation of Richmond operates Learning Centers to develop leaders by making long-term investments in children from at-risk communities. Their vision is to nurture the child, strengthen family, and rebuild the community! We hope to replicate our Learning Center model in many Richmond communities.
Campus Connections
Pathways to a College Experience (PACE)
PACE (Pathways to a College Experience) on-campus tours, hosted by student volunteers, expose elementary and middle school students to the possibility of a college education.
UR Mentoring Network
UR Mentoring Network is a student run service organization dedicated to uplifting and empowering students in the Richmond Public School system through mentoring. The group partners with Armstrong High School for weekly sessions and design their own curriculum that targets personal growth, academic preparedness, and professional development.
Scholars' Latino Initiative (SLI)
The Scholars' Latino Initiative, SLI for short, is an organization that pairs current UR students with Latinx high school students from the Richmond City area. This mentorship goes beyond supplemental academic help because UR students are prepping these students for college and beyond. Led by Dr. Kaufman in the Leadership School, SLI has helped Latinx students keep their passion for learning and continue their education at a four year university or junior college. SLI is open to any UR student that is motivated to shape the new generation of Latinx leaders in the Richmond area. Mentors do not have to be Latinx, and Spanish is not required.
Relevant Courses
EDUC 217 Foundations of Education
Introduction to the American educational system. Explores the philosophical, sociological, historical, and political roots of schools today. Attention also given to the legal status of teachers and students, including federal and state laws and regulations, school as an organization/culture, and contemporary issues in education including the use of relevant data in instructional decision-making.
EDUC 337 Education and Public Policy
Survey of contemporary issues and examination of legislation affecting educational policy at both the state and local level. In-depth examination of current and emerging policy issues, strategies for influencing policy, and techniques for adapting new policy into current school culture and processes.
SOC 320 Race, Class, and Schooling
Deepens students' understanding of the various ways in which race and class inequality manifest in schools and shape the educational experiences of students.
EDUC 376 Social Justice in Education
Examines how social inequality impacts public education, and how schools function to perpetuate and/or remediate social injustice. Further explores how socially constructed differences (race, social class, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic, linguistic and cultural backgrounds) may be used to privilege some learners and marginalize others. Considers teachers as agents of change and what individuals and communities can do to ensure that all students have equitable educational opportunities. A community-based learning experience is a required course component.