Addressing Educational Inequities for Pacific Islander Students through Action Research and Community Partnerships

Abstract

Due to the legacy of nuclear testing and colonization, Chuukese and Marshallese immigrants came to Hawaiʻi for healthcare and educational opportunities under the Compacts of Free Association, agreements between the United States government and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau. As immigrant groups new to Hawaiʻi, Chuukese and Marshallese students and families have encountered racism and educational injustice in schools, contributing to disenfranchisement and significant barriers to learning. This article addresses understudied issues for teachers. It shares experts’ cultural and linguistic perspectives on essential background information for teachers of Chuukese and Marshallese students.