MA in Policy Studies

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://digital.lib.washington.edu/handle/1773/34662

The Master of Arts in Policy Studies program is a community of people who believe policy can make a difference. The program is comprised of students, scholars, and policy professionals who collaborate in policy arenas such as environment & energy, labor, education, technology, human rights, local and state government, and technology. Faculty and student research contributes to the academic body of knowledge, promotes public education, and engages in the major contemporary policy debates. A complete listing of Capstone projects completed by Policy Studies students is available on the program web site.

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The Impact of Economic Development on Democratic Transition in Sub-Saharan Africa (2004–2023): Analyzing Structural and Policy Dynamics
(2025) Hamad, Mohammed
The study analyses the causal relationship between economic development and democratic transition by evaluating the dynamic long-term and short-term determinants of democratic outcomes, as quantified by the Polity IV index, in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The region has seen fewer democratic transitions and more political instability, even though it has a lot of natural resources and a high rate of economic growth. Utilizing modernization theory, institutional theory, and political economy frameworks to examine variations in Polity IV outcomes, the study reveals that predictive factors, including overall institutional quality and civil liberties, demonstrate significantly greater statistical significance than GDP growth alone. The analysis utilizes annual data from 49 SSA countries spanning 2004 to 2023, employing a Panel Vector Error Correction Model (P-VECM) to elucidate both long-term structural relationships and short-term political dynamics. This method makes it possible to find equilibrium constraints, rates of adjustment, and path-dependent processes in the transition to democracy. The results show three main things. First, in line with path-dependence (H1), there is a stable long-run equilibrium. However, convergence is slow, with only 12.83% of disequilibrium being corrected each year. This shows how hard it is for institutions to change. Second, in support of hypothesis H2, long-term democratic outcomes are significantly and adversely affected by natural resource revenues, offering compelling evidence of a resource-curse mechanism that hinders democratic access through extractive institutional frameworks. Third, in accordance with hypothesis H3, GDP growth is statistically insignificant in the long term, whereas political freedoms, assessed by the Freedom in the World index, emerge as the primary determinant in both short- and long-term contexts.
Resisting Techno-Optimism: AI Literacy and the Politics of Inclusion Across Global Divides
(2025) Le, Stephanie
This capstone critically examines the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), education, and global equity, challenging techno-optimistic narratives that frame technological progress as inherently beneficial. Drawing on socio-technical systems theory, critical pedagogy, and epistemic justice, the study explores how AI literacy can serve as a transformative tool for resisting exclusionary practices and promoting justice-oriented engagement across global divides. Through qualitative methodologies, including faculty interviews and observational data from workshops, the research identifies systemic gaps in AI governance, ethical frameworks, and pedagogical integration within higher education. Case studies on surveillance technologies, biometric systems, and algorithmic labor illustrate how AI infrastructures reproduce inequities, particularly for marginalized communities in the Global South. Findings reveal fragmented institutional policies, uneven access to AI resources, and epistemic harms embedded in algorithmic design. The study concludes with actionable recommendations for universities to embed critical AI literacy into curricula, adopt inclusive governance frameworks, and foster global collaboration to democratize technological futures. By reframing AI literacy as a civic competency rather than a technical skill, this work advocates for equity-driven strategies that resist techno-optimism and center human rights in the age of artificial intelligence.
Hospital Consolidation in Washington State
(2025) Zhang, Holly
This study examines the impact of hospital consolidations in Washington State using a qualitative research approach. Seven in-depth interviews were conducted with medical professionals who have firsthand experience with or insights into hospital mergers. Common themes emerged across these interviews, highlighting significant concerns related to the loss of patient-centered care, increased prioritization of investor profits, cultural shifts within institutions, staff reductions, unchecked expansion, and the erosion of physician and community governance. Based on the insights gathered, the study concludes with policy recommendations aimed at mitigating these impacts, including strengthening merger oversight, mandating financial and pricing transparency, reinforcing clinical autonomy, and preventing harmful vertical integration.
After the Fall: Bodily Autonomy in Crisis: Peer and Community Narratives in Washington State After Roe’s Overturn
(2025) Swanson, Miranda
This capstone examines the social, ethical, and policy consequences of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade and eliminated federal constitutional protections for abortion. The study combines policy analysis with original qualitative data gathered through an anonymous online survey of Washington State residents. The study also investigates how individuals emotionally and politically respond to the post-Dobbs legal landscape. Key findings reveal that respondents overwhelmingly value reproductive autonomy as a fundamental right, yet express widespread fear, anger, and mistrust in government institutions. Many participants shared personal experiences with abortion care, legal uncertainty, and activism, underscoring the lived impacts of state-level restrictions even in a sanctuary state like Washington. The paper identifies four major themes: bodily autonomy as safety, the emotional toll of policy change, disparate impacts on marginalized communities, and a persistent drive toward civic resistance. In doing so, the project contributes to ongoing scholarly and policy discussions about reproductive justice, public health equity, and democratic accountability in a fragmented legal system. This research highlights the urgent need for responsive and inclusive reproductive policy at both the state and national levels, emphasizing that legal frameworks must be informed by the lived realities of those most affected. By elevating community narratives alongside legal analysis, the study reaffirms that reproductive rights are not merely constitutional questions, but core issues of identity, dignity, and human freedom.
Dual Language in WA’s K-12 Schools
(2025) Rodriguez, Lizbeth
The state of Washington has a potential inequity in the implementation of Dual Language (DL) programs in its Kinder-12 schools. While these programs are being promoted as a key strategy to close educational gaps between multilingual and monolingual students, there is a concern that they may disproportionately benefit White, affluent communities, thereby undermining equity and perpetuating existing disparities. This study examines this trend by answering two central questions: (1) Are there indicators of White appropriation in the state’s promotional language, specifically in its messaging and framing of Dual Language programs? And (2) how do school demographics, including racial and socioeconomic factors, differ across the various types and instructional models of Dual Language programs implemented in Washington State? Employing a multi-level investigation that included a critical analysis of state policy, geospatial mapping, and quantitative analyses at the district and school levels, this research yields a cohesive conclusion that a fundamental tension exists between the foundational, equity-driven purpose of DL programs and a pervasive discourse that reorients them to serve the interests of native English speakers. The data demonstrates that this discursive shift is not benign; it actively contributes to a two-tiered system of DLE that reinforces existing racial and socioeconomic divides. Definitive indicators were found of whitestreaming and policy expropriation in state documents, which frame bilingualism as globalized human capital for the benefit of “all students.” The implementation of DL programs is not universally accessible; rather, their distribution is a function of a community’s wealth, diversity, and political capital. This is evidenced by a strong positive correlation between program implementation and the Dual Language in WA’s K-12 Schools percentage of Hispanic and Native American students, yet also a stratification of program models, as the Two-Way 50/50 model is heavily concentrated in affluent counties like King County, while highly diverse but low-income counties like Adams County have almost no programs at all. This system’s failure to prioritize its foundational equity mission presents a profound challenge to Washington’s legislative goals and leaves it ill-equipped for a future marked by increasing linguistic diversity and climate-driven migration.
Evaluating the Effectiveness of the U-Visa & VAWA Protections for Immigrant Survivors of Domestic Violence
(2025) Medina Salas, Estefania
This capstone explores the disconnect between the legal protections available to immigrant survivors of domestic violence and their lived experiences in Washington State. Despite the existence of frameworks such as the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), the U-visa program, and several state statutes, immigrant survivors, particularly those who are undocumented, face a myriad of barriers that hinder their access to justice and safety. This research draws on qualitative interviews with fifteen immigrant survivors and three domestic violence advocates, as well as an in-depth analysis of Washington State’s legal and institutional landscape. The findings reveal that while these protections exist on paper, their practical application is inconsistent, and many survivors remain unaware of their rights or fear engaging with the legal system due to the threat of deportation, misinformation, and systemic gatekeeping. The study underscores the need for comprehensive reforms, including mandatory language access, survivor-centered practices, consistent enforcement of laws, and robust public education campaigns. This capstone concludes by providing policy recommendations aimed at bridging the gap between legal intent and the lived reality of immigrant survivors, emphasizing the importance of creating a more equitable, accessible, and transparent justice system for all survivors.
An Analysis of Veteran Homelessness in King County
(2025) MacMillan, Gavin E.
Veteran homelessness is an epidemic that exists all throughout America and while many politicians agree on the need for a solution, doing so is much more complicated than it sounds. This report examines many different existing models and programs to envision a solution for homeless veterans in King County. This includes breaking down an array of causes that create homelessness as well as those that perpetuate it. This research combined with a firsthand interview led to the qualitative coding of five key themes, those being: Seattle Culture, Financial barriers, the King County Veterans Seniors and Human Services levy being too big, Band Aid Fixes and the Rhode Island Model. The multitude of causes and the fact that the King County Veterans Seniors and Human Services Levy has existed for 20 years with minimal substantive progress expresses the need for amending existing policy. These being Fix the Seattle culture, Target the economic factors that keep people in homelessness, Target the Levy on Veterans, Work on band aid fixes and finally the Rhode Island Model.
Perceptions and Participation: Exploring the Ties Between Quality of Life and Volunteering
(2025) Lanphere, Ryan
This study examines whether perceived quality of life is associated with community engagement through volunteering. Using the 2024 American National Election Studies (ANES) Time Series data, I built a multi-item quality of life factor and estimated a binary logistic regression predicting past-year volunteering. The model includes quality of life, education, income, race and ethnicity, and home internet access. Results show a modest association between quality of life and volunteering. A one-standard-deviation increase in quality of life raises the predicted probability of volunteering from approximately 20 percent to approximately 22 percent, indicating that practical resources matter more. Reliable home internet is linked to nearly double the odds of volunteering, and higher educational attainment is also associated with greater participation, while income shows a smaller, yet positive, relationship. Patterns by race and ethnicity are mixed: Hispanic respondents and respondents from Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander backgrounds are less likely to report volunteering than white respondents, while the difference for Black respondents is not statistically significant. Because the data are cross-sectional, the analysis cannot determine causality. Overall, the findings suggest that improving digital access and reducing barriers to participation are promising approaches to expanding the pool of volunteers.
Identifying Priority Locations for Community Gardens in Bothell, WA
(2025) Hickey, Azaria
Community gardens are used to address climate change and ensure food access to vulnerable populations through food sovereignty. Bothell, Washinton’s Imagine Bothell Comprehensive Plan contains two policies that seek to address lack of food access for vulnerable populations through the implementation and mapping of community gardens. This study investigates community input on the preferences of community gardens sites and support of this type of government led project. Surveys were given to the public in-person in downtown Bothell as well as virtually though a survey platform that gave insight into the best locations for community garden implementation at the city level given the social and ecological needs of the city. Guided by previous research on community gardens that considered land tenure, social perceptions, inequity, and successes and failures of this type of project, this study was able to provide a socially and ecologically relevant survey to the public that was then analyzed for policy recommendations for the City of Bothell. The findings of the study indicate an overwhelming support for community gardens with high projections for engagement once implemented and a preference towards public land use for these spaces on school grounds and public parks with close attention being given to ensuring transportation access to these spaces.
A Modern Form of Segregation: The Impact of Higher Education Bans on Undocumented Students in the South
(2025) Gamez Lopez, Karen Arlette
Higher education access for undocumented immigrants looks vastly different across the United States. In the South, there are three states that actively ban undocumented students from higher education access, including Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina. While there is a lot of research regarding previous state and federal policies, general experiences of undocumented students in education, and racial exclusion and segregation, there is limited research regarding the impact of bans on undocumented students. This study aims to share the experiences of undocumented students and individuals in the South that have navigated the higher education bans. Research was conducted through seven qualitative interviews with undocumented individuals over eighteen years of age that currently reside or grew up in Georgia, Alabama, or South Carolina. Findings reveal that (1) the bans are a modern form of segregation (2) education is incredibly meaningful for undocumented students and they pursue alternative methods in order to obtain access (3) undocumented students face a lot of uncertainty and hopelessness in their journey leading to thoughts about “self-deportation”/voluntary departure (4) community is incredibly important in their journey, and (5) many hold advocacy and leadership roles that have developed their issue awareness, agency, voice, and power, ultimately leading to transformative community impact. This study concludes by providing policy recommendations to address the barriers and challenges that undocumented students face on their educational journey in the South.
We Are Still Here: Restoring Language, Land, and Cultural Strength in the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe
(2025) Fero, Brianna Marie
This capstone explores how the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe enacts cultural revitalization as a form of sovereign governance. Through a community-centered case study grounded in Indigenous methodologies, the project examines how land, language, and intergenerational knowledge function as cultural policy systems: practiced, protected, and passed on across generations. The research centers the experiences and perspectives of four Port Gamble S’Klallam tribal members and knowledge holders who generously shared their reflections on identity, governance, revitalization, and cultural continuity. The central research question guiding this project asks: How have the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe’s efforts to reclaim and preserve their culture, land, and language impacted their community, particularly in relation to women and youth? Rather than viewing cultural revitalization as a symbolic act or institutional initiative, this study treats it as a lived, ongoing form of governance expressed through practices such as beadwork, naming, early childhood education, language reclamation, and intergenerational teaching. These practices form the foundation of a policy system that is community-defined, relationally governed, and resistant to settler frameworks which have historically devalued Indigenous knowledge. The methodology involved long-form, semi-structured interviews, thematic coding, and fieldnotes guided by a framework of relational accountability. Reflexivity and care were central to every stage of the research design. Interviewees reviewed their transcripts and retained full agency over how their words were represented. Conversations were treated as knowledge sharing rooted in trust, sovereignty, and respect. Each storyteller contributed unique insights based on their generational position, leadership roles, and experiences of cultural transmission. What emerged from conversations was a powerful portrait of cultural resurgence that is led largely by women and sustained through daily acts of care, leadership, and teaching. Youth were consistently described as central to the future of this work, already singing in language, harvesting cedar, participating in Canoe Journeys, and influencing their families. The findings demonstrate how revitalization is a dynamic, forward-looking movement rooted in land, relational governance, and intergenerational love. Various acts of resurgence persist despite structural barriers such as housing scarcity, land restrictions, and chronic underfunding of Native language programs. This project contributes to the field of policy studies by challenging dominant assumptions about where policy occurs and who creates it. It argues for a broader and more accurate understanding of governance, one which recognizes community-driven cultural systems as strategic, enduring forms of policy in their own right. A community-facing deliverable accompanies this report, illuminating the ethical foundation of the project and its commitment to relational research. What follows is not a study of policy from the outside, but a record of policy as it lives within a sovereign Nation: enacted through culture, led with care, and sustained by a community who never stopped protecting what matters most.
Untold Legacies: Exploring the Lives of Pioneering Female Garment Workers in Bangladesh from Industry Inception to their Middle-Aged Retirement and Afterwards
(2025) Anan, Nubah
The garment industry has been a cornerstone of Bangladesh’s economic growth, employing millions of workers, the majority of whom are women. However, while extensive research has documented the exploitative working conditions within the industry, little attention has been given to the struggles these workers face post-retirement. This study examines the financial, health, and social challenges encountered by retired female garment workers in Bangladesh. Through thematic analysis of narratives from 15 retired workers, the research uncovers systemic issues such as financial insecurity, deteriorating health conditions, lack of institutional support, and societal stigma. Findings reveal that despite decades of labor, many retired workers receive little to no financial compensation, forcing them into poverty. Health deterioration due to years of hazardous working conditions is exacerbated by the lack of affordable healthcare. Additionally, social stigma and isolation further marginalize these women, reflecting broader societal attitudes toward female industrial laborers. The absence of pension schemes, severance benefits, and legal protections leaves them vulnerable and unsupported. This study underscores the urgent need for comprehensive labor reforms, including retirement benefits, healthcare provisions, and social security programs tailored to the needs of garment workers. By addressing these structural deficiencies, policymakers, industry leaders, and labor rights advocates can work toward ensuring a dignified post-retirement life for those who have contributed significantly to Bangladesh’s economic development.
The World’s Finest Censorship and Surveillance Tactics: Examining the relationship between the Zero-Covid policy proposed by the Chinese government and how the oppressive strategies used to monitor and control the citizenry
(2024) Yang, Sibo (Percy)
This capstone project examines the intersection of China's Zero-COVID policy and the implementation of advanced censorship and surveillance tactics. Using a mixed-methods exploratory study, the research delves into the experiences and perceptions of individuals affected by the stringent measures from late 2019 to December 2022. The study combines qualitative and quantitative data, including personal accounts and survey responses, to analyze the socio-political implications of the policy. Key findings highlight the significant impact on personal freedoms, psychological well-being, and economic stability, revealing a complex landscape where public health measures intersect with governmental control mechanisms. This project aims to contribute to the broader discourse on state surveillance, public policy, and individual rights in the context of unprecedented global health crises.
Solidarity Through Collective Action: The Role of Community Coalitions in Grassroots Policy Engagement
(2024) Leslie, Brianne
Grassroots advocacy coalitions are one mechanism in which community organizations leverage collective action to influence policy outcomes. This capstone explores the organizational dynamics of advocacy coalitions, focusing on alliance building, resource sharing, and collective action strategies. It aims to fill a gap in the understanding of advocacy coalitions as political entities, offering insights that could empower community organizations to enhance their political engagement capabilities. Utilizing qualitative methods, this study investigates the Seattle Solidarity Budget (SB) coalition, drawing upon the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF) as a theoretical lens to analyze the dynamics that enable grassroots coalitions to function as political intermediaries. Key factors influencing the success of the SB include maintaining goal alignment, the strategic use of outside tactics, the ability to build and maintain strong alliances, and the practice of collective care and sustainability within the coalition. These findings contribute to a broader understanding of how grassroots coalitions can effectively mobilize communities, overcome institutional barriers, and catalyze policy change.
The Sea and Islands Are Calling: The Power of Nature to Heal: A Qualitative Study
(2024) LaRance, Elizabeth L.
For many, our ability and opportunity to experience and connect with nature, which we may have taken for granted, is dissipating. Humanity is encountering an immense shift with, according to the United Nations, most people—over half globally and approximately 4 in 5 in the United States—now live in urban areas. With more people living in urban areas, equity of access to green nature spaces (e.g., parks, forests, green open spaces) or blue nature spaces (blue spaces (e.g., lakes, rivers, oceans) is often unequal for marginalized communities. The uneven accessibility to urban nature results in lack of the positive mental health benefits and well-being for marginalized and low-income population and has become recognized as a Public Health and Environmental Justice issue. There is a vast amount of research globally on the positive mental health benefits from exposure to green space with much less on blue space. To my knowledge, there is a gap in the research on nature and well-being when experienced “in situ” (natural or original place) both green and blue spaces simultaneously, and while riding a Washington State Ferry across a large body of water such as the Salish Sea or Puget Sound. To fill this gap,17 participants were interviewed on their experiences while riding on a Washington State Ferry from Anacortes, Washington to the San Juan Islands. The interviews revealed five themes: Emotions, Safety, Awareness of Engaged Senses, Impact of Blue and Green Spaces, and Healing. All the participants reported experiences of diverse positive emotions. Some had a sense of reconnecting with nature and a healing experience. The Ferry sensations and sound were soothing, comforting and a refuge. All the participants reported feeling safe and secure riding the Ferry, event in inclement weather. These new, positive and unique findings from this study could offer a new option and generally easily accessible resource to nature from the urban areas of Seattle. As such, these findings need to come to the attention of policy makers in Public Health and Social Justice as an ecosystem services tool. This tool, a ride on a Washington State Ferry in the greater Puget Sound region, can begin to address the inequity of accessibility to nature and subsequent positive mental health benefits of marginalized communities in the urban areas of Seattle. Further research on Washington State Ferry routes leaving from the core of Seattle would expand these findings and contribute to new research. Addressing the social determinants of health of marginalized communities can foster healthier citizens and healthier communities.
Death with Dignity: A Study of Washington State’s Medical Aid in Dying Laws
(2024) Hobbs, Madison
The purpose of this study is to examine if Washington State medical professionals believe medical aid in dying (MAID) laws in Washington State are adequate for patients during their end-of-life process. Legally, medical aid in dying can be defined as “a method by which a physician will provide medical supplies and prescription medications to a terminally ill individual as a means for that individual to end their life” (Cornell Law School). In 2023, Washington State passed an expansion on its Death with Dignity law. Washington historically has taken influence from its neighboring governments of Oregon and Canada when it comes to medical aid in dying. With the neighboring governments becoming more progressive in their laws, many have come to worry we’ll run into the same issues they’re running into. My study examines how physicians feel about the current state of Washington’s MAID laws by asking them a series of survey questions where they rate their answers on a scale of 1-5. Every physician would be asked the same questions using the same scale, but the changing variable would be the profession and care they provide to a patient. The goal is to see not only if the law should be expanded/cut, but also to see if different professions of physicians have varying opinions on these laws' impact on their patients.
Geographical Inequity Among Youth Aging out of Foster Care: A Quantitative Examination of Cohort 3 of the NYTD
(2024) Goforth, Nadia
Each year, it is estimated that more than 250,000 children enter the United States foster care system (NFYI, 2024). The Annie E. Casey Foundation notes that children enter the system because their families are in crisis. Often, children have experienced unsafe conditions, abuse, neglect, or have parents who are unable to care for them. The foster care system is intended to provide a safe, temporary living arrangement and support services for children who have been removed from their families (Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2024).
War of Words: The Impact of Dehumanizing Military Metaphors on U.S. Military Deployments Post 9/11
(2024) Espinosa, Rico
This capstone project investigates the use of dehumanizing military metaphors in U.S. political speeches and media discourse following the September 11, 2001 attacks, focusing on the rhetoric of Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama during their first terms. The study explores how these metaphors, often framed within themes such as “us-vs-them”, a faceless “Other”, “good-vs-evil”, and the “protection of freedom”, serve as powerful tools of political persuasion. Through content analysis and the application of the Narrative Policy Framework (NPF), the research reveals how these metaphors simplify complex geopolitical conflicts, influence public perception through media coverage, and justify military engagements. The capstone project highlights the evolution and persistence of these metaphors across administrations, emphasizing the real-world human costs of military actions, and ultimately advocating for more ethical and transparent communication strategies in political discourse.
Effect of Criminal Background Checks on the Employability of the Formerly incarcerated and Recidivism
(2024) Ayeni, Daramfon Uwemedimo
Gaining employment is challenging under the best of circumstances. For individuals returning home after serving time in prison, the difficulty is significantly amplified. One of the reasons being employers’ easy access to applicant’s criminal record through routine and frequent background checks. Although criminal background checks were originally intended to ensure workplace safety and security by identifying individuals with criminal histories that might pose a risk to the organization or its employees, and to help organizations minimize the risk of fraud, theft, and other misconduct, they now appear to do more harm than good to society. Despite existing anti-discrimination laws, many employers utilize background checks in a manner that significantly hinders the job prospects of returning citizens, perpetuating a cycle of unemployment and recidivism; issues that remain significant barriers to successful reintegration and economic stability. Utilizing qualitative research methods this study investigates the impact of background checks on the employability of formerly incarcerated individuals in the United States, particularly people of color, and their likelihood of reoffending while also considering the issues of workforce diversity, equity and inclusion in hiring processes. The findings of this study reveal a substantial negative impact of background checks on the employability of the formerly incarcerated, highlighting the need for policy reforms that facilitate their successful reintegration into the workforce, stricter enforcement of anti-discrimination laws in employment spaces and the incorporation of rehabilitation information in background checks to provide a more balanced view of an applicant's suitability for employment. These recommendations aim to mitigate the negative impacts of background checks, promote fair hiring practices, and support the better reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals into the society, ultimately contributing to lower recidivism rates, lower crime and enhanced social stability.
A Comparative Case Study of Washington State and Mississippi's COVID-19 Learning Loss Recovery Strategies
(2024) Aburabie. Maryam
This study is a comparative case that investigates the learning loss strategies implemented by Washington State and Mississippi. This case study will address the following questions: What strategies did Washington State vs. Mississippi implement to alleviate the impact of COVID-19 learning loss and facilitate recovery? What specific initiatives have been implemented by Washington State and Mississippi to address COVID-19 learning loss, particularly concerning the racial gap? Addressing why Washington state with a low initial learning loss has a slow recovery and the opposite is true for Mississippi. Mississippi has the highest learning loss but has one of the fastest recovery rates. We should look into the best strategies for the academic gap and maybe learn and take advantage of what these two states did to help close the achievement and racial gaps in America. The strategies that Washington State implemented to alleviate the impact of COVID-19 learning loss and facilitate recovery were Equity and Accessibility, Mental health and well-being, Professional Development and Senate Bill 6168, and Engagement with Families and Strengthening Community Voices. The strategies that Mississippi implemented to alleviate the impact of COVID-19 learning loss and facilitate recovery were Mississippi Connects and Technology Access, Professional Development and Teacher Diversity, Family Engagement and Support. Lastly, On-Demand Tutoring. The specific initiatives that Washington State took concerning the racial gap were enforcing Senate Bill 6168 and giving voices to communities who have been excluded from education policy process, Vs. Mississippi. Mississippi hiring, certifying, and training educators of color, along with creating an online program or app as a digital learning resource called “Mississippi Connects”. Overall, My findings in the future may help policymakers and other researchers interested in racial equity and learning loss further understand the vastly different approaches each state took, comparing it to the results. This could potentially help in making policies based on this research to improve the quality of learning overall. Through my research as well as other fellow academics we hope to see a change and make a difference. I aspire to raise awareness and motivate advocacy efforts for policymakers to create or adjust policies that address racial disparities. I also hope other researchers and academic persons like me can use my findings for further studies.

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