Education Commons^™

“2Pac,” “Lil Wayne,” and “Lil’ Kim” enter your classroom. They seem to be high on marijuana; are dressed in modern, hip attire; and are fashionably late to your classroom. As always, they like to sit in the back of the room talking, laying their heads down onto the desk, or “chilling” non-responsively to the lessons taking place within your setting. Does this sound familiar? It should, as numerous studies have raised concern about the critical engagement, initiative, and performance of low-income minority students, particularly those attending urban schools. Absenteeism and dropout rates among low-income minority students raise concerns about their …