TY  - JOUR
AB  - Ethnic Studies is a culturally relevant curriculum designed to address the instructional needs of an increasingly diverse student population. However, evidence regarding its effectiveness at scale remains limited. This study evaluates the impact of district-wide implementation using a student-level difference-in-differences design with two-way fixed effects. We find that enrollment increases overall GPA by 0.17 points (0.24 SD), with the largest gains observed in Math and Science, and reduces course failure by 5.6 percentage points (0.14 SD). These benefits extend to all student groups, with stronger effects among academically vulnerable, male, Black and Latine students, and those with individualized education plans. Our findings suggest that well-implemented Ethnic Studies can be scaled effectively and has the potential to reduce disparities in student outcomes.
AU  - Bisht, Biraj
AU  - Bonilla, Sade
AU  - Kim, Grace
AU  - Penner, Emily K.
PY  - 2026
ST  - Cultural Relevance at Scale: The Effects of an Ethnic Studies Expansion on Academic Outcomes
TI  - Cultural Relevance at Scale: The Effects of an Ethnic Studies Expansion on Academic Outcomes
UR  - http://www.edworkingpapers.com/ai26-1446
ER  -