Studies Identify Steps to Support Asian and Asian American Students Amid Current Forms of Anti-Asian Racism and Xenophobia

The COVID-19 pandemic has not only shone a light on the longstanding, structural inequities at the root of our education systems — it has also deepened them. For Asian and Asian American communities, COVID-19 also amplified and stoked anti-Asian racism and hate, including a staggering 9,000+ incidents since the start of the pandemic. This school year, “back to normal” isn’t good enough. Not for any student — and not for Asian and Asian American students. Asian and Asian American students deserve learning environments that counter racist bullying, harassment, and violence. Two new publications from our Research in Brief series identify tangible ways school, college, and university leaders can welcome students back to campus by addressing anti-Asian racism and creating more positive learning environments:
  • Collecting more comprehensive data on school bullying, harassment, and victimization disaggregated by Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) ethnic subgroups
  • Disaggregating other data on diverse subgroups of AAPI students
  • Investing in culturally sustaining mental health resources and curriculum at the K-12 level and Asian American Studies departments, programs, and centers in higher education
  • Creating task forces to think strategically about racism and xenophobia towards Asian and Asian American students
Note regarding terminology: Precise descriptors of Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander (AAPI) groups that reflect their distinct identifies and experiences are essential to combatting the racism these communities face. The terms used in these briefs differ because the topics they address differ. In “Anti-Asian Bullying and Harassment: Symptoms of Racism in K-12 Schools during COVID-19″, the authors use “Asian American” and “AAPI” to reflect how bullying and harassment data is collected and reported. In “A Racial Reckoning: Anti-Asian Racism and Exclusion in Higher Education”, we use “Asian and Asian American” because the piece discusses forms of racism that specifically affect Asian groups.

Karla Fernandez

Communications Manager

Karla Fernandez (she/her/hers) joins Ed Trust–West as a Communications Manager with over 11 years of experience advancing social impact initiatives.

Karla started her career as a teacher at Chicago Public Schools and UIC College Prep. After teaching, Karla joined United Friends of the Children to support LA County’s youth in foster care as a college counselor. Through Leadership for Educational Equity, Karla also served as a Policy Advisor Fellow for the office of a Los Angeles Unified School Board Member. She solidified her interests in policy analysis and quantitative research during her time with the Price Center for Social Innovation, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, and the USC Presidential Working Group on Sustainability. Before joining The Education Trust–West, Karla was the Associate Director for the Southeast Los Angeles (SELA) Collaborative, a network of nonprofits advocating for communities in SELA.

Karla holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology from the University of Chicago, a Master of Public Policy from the USC Price School of Public Policy, and a Graduate Certificate in Policy Advocacy from the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Karla is based out of southern California and is passionate about using data analysis, communications, and digital strategies for policy advocacy and social justice efforts.