Case study of the voluntary student transfer program: The perspectives of African American students and parent participants in one midwestern school district

Abstract

This study investigated the perspectives of four students and 6 parent participants of the Voluntary Student Transfer program, an inter-district desegregation program that involves transporting African American students from urban area schools to surrounding county schools. Due to limited and dated research related to the Voluntary Student Transfer (VST) program, the researcher employed a qualitative collective case study framework which included a semi-structured interview protocol and questionnaires to gather perceptual data of parent and student participants of the program. The collective case studies revealed that parent and student participants of the VST program were satisfied with the program overall had not considered discontinuing participation for any reason. Data analysis revealed common themes addressed by parents and students to support their perceptions about the VST program. These themes included quality of education, the importance of relationships, and parent activism. Busing and the distance from home was another combined theme that developed, presenting a drawback from program participation. Because the sample size of this study represents a small percentage of the participants in the VST program, further studies should be conducted to include more perspectives within the research district and other districts implementing the VST program.