Education

Functionalist view

A theory that emphasizes the smooth working of society and the maintenance of the social order.

Socialization

Process through which people come to share the values and practices of a society.

Sorting

The process of dividing students into groups, often based on ideas about intelligence or achievement.

Manifest functions

The obvious, intended functions of an institution.

Latent functions

Unintended or unrecognized functions of an institution.

Conflict perspective

A theory that society is characterized by a struggle among groups over power, and those with power attempt to hold onto it.

Achievement ideology

Belief that anyone can succeed through education and hard work.

Social reproduction

Process through which schools perpetuate the class structure.

Social capital

Resources people access through their relationships or social networks.

Cultural capital

Knowledge, habits, and skills valued by institutions.

Institutionalized racism

Racism built into policies and practices.

Social interactionist theory

Perspective that looks at how people interact in normal life, including taken-for-granted behaviours.

Achievement gap

Differences in academic outcomes between groups of students.

Opportunity gap

Differences in opportunities and resources available to groups of students.

Food insecure

Lacking consistent access to nutritious food.

Concerted cultivation

A practice in which families, especially in the middle class, carefully and deliberately prepare their children for future success.

Accomplishment of natural growth

A less intensive form of parenting, more common among working class parents, that relies less on investing lots of time and money in each individual child’s success.

Social construct

A category that can take on the appearance of scientific fact, but is actually the product of society and culture.

De jure segregation

Segregation of schools enforced by law.

De Facto segregation

Segregation of schools created by residential segregation.

Double segregation

Concentration of large numbers of low-income students of color in particular schools.

Heteronormativity

Assumption that individuals are heterosexual and that biological sex and gender expressions are aligned.

Hidden curriculum

Unofficial messages to students that are communicated through rules, routines, arrangements of classrooms, and interactions.

Tracking

Process of sorting students into different groups based on ideas about ability, achievement, or prospects.

Second-generation segregation

Racial segregation within schools because of racialized patterns in tracking assignments.

Education policy

Decisions about school related issues, including funding, operations, curriculum, student assignment, and staffing.

No Child Left Behind Act

2001 federal law that mandated regular standardized testing and set consequences for low-performing schools.

Charter Schools

Privately run but publicly funded schools.

Critical race theory

Race is the major source of oppression, is institutionalized in US society, and benefits white people and disadvantages POC.