The Role of Local Church in Alleviating Education inequalities in New York City Public Schools Focusing on South Jamaica School Districts

This project grew out of my concern that while there is a great expectation of local churches in South Jamaica, New York, to help the meet needs of students and the neighborhood public schools, my observation is that churches have not been forth coming. The dissertation focuses on churches, public schools, families, and guardians in the South Jamaica community to investigate the thoughts and views of pastors, church leaders, public school principals, Parent Teacher Association presidents, parent coordinators, and families residing in the community with the objective of delivering more equality of educational opportunities in the public schools. The project creates an enabling environment that pastors and church leaders, together with churches in South Jamaica, can work in partnership to join resources (volunteers, donations, church premises) as informed by the responses to questionnaires. The project brings churches in South Jamaica together with commitment to adopt a nearby public school in the South Jamaica community with the goal of improving the quality of education in the public schools.

The project concluded from the results of the questionnaires sent to pastors, church leaders, public school principals, teachers, Parent Teacher Association presidents, and parent coordinators that pastors and church leaders are encouraged and committed towards adopting a nearby public school.