Exploring Racial Equity in Education: The Impact of Teacher Racial Bias on Student–Teacher Relationship Quality and the Opportunity for School Social Workers.

This article examines the impact of teacher racial bias on the quality of student–teacher relationships in U.S. public pre-kindergarten through 12th grade schools, focusing on both implicit and explicit biases and the role of teacher–student racial mismatch. Using survey data from 115 current teachers, the study found that teachers' explicit racial bias, measured by the Racism Scale, significantly predicted poorer student–teacher relationship quality, while implicit racial bias and racial mismatch did not show a significant effect. The findings highlight the potential for school social workers (SSWs) to lead antiracist practices and interventions aimed at advancing educational justice, as emphasized in the National School Social Work Practice Model 2.0. The study calls for further research and training to support SSWs in addressing racial bias and improving equitable outcomes for students of color.