Michigan State University Assistant Professor Noreen Naseem Rodríguez will lead the first-ever Transformative Research Grant from the Spencer Foundation.

The grant funds a multidisciplinary team study to conduct a large-scale study on community-driven initiatives to teach Asian American Studies in K-12 classrooms.

Their study across five states will explore how communities advocate for curricular policies mandating the teaching of Asian American studies and how these policies get implemented in schools and impact student learning. Ultimately, the project aims to develop supports for families and communities to successfully advocate for curricular changes and for policymakers, systems leaders, and educators to successfully implement ethnic studies courses in ways that increase learning and civic engagement.