Low-income parents value excellent schools, yet often enroll their children in low-performing schools. The literature is inconclusive when examining how low-income families go through school choice decisions. It is important to understand the school decision-making process among different racial groups because choosing a good school improves later academic outcomes. Choosing a good elementary school is especially important because this is a critical period in a child's development and can affect performance in subsequent educational institutions. I am interested in understanding how race/ethnicity shapes how low-income parents make decisions about schools. Using interview data from an extensive qualitative study, I examine differences and similarities among white, Latino, and Polynesian parents' values of school quality and how they use those values to make school decisions for their children. By keeping social class constant, I delve into racial differences not previously discussed in the literature. I find racial distinctions among values and priorities in school decision-making. Ignoring these differences will create obstacles for policymakers and school administrators attempting to make a quality education available to children who come from disadvantaged backgrounds.

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In Nigeria, displaced non-Muslim parents living in refugee camps face difficult decisions regarding the schooling of their teenage daughters, who are potential targets of Boko Haram terrorist activities. The purpose of this interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was to qualitatively explore a deeper understanding of the lived experience of displaced non-Muslim parents in Nigeria concerning the schooling of their teenage daughters. Prospect theory provided a theoretical foundation for the study. The theory holds that decision-making is based on the perceived value of gains and losses under risk conditions, rather than solely the perceived final outcome of the risk. The research questions explored how the experience of terrorism affected parents' school-related decision-making, perceptions of the schooling environment and value of education, and risk-taking attitudes. Data were collected through semistructured interviews held with 12 participants from 2 refugee camps. The data were then analyzed using the steps recommended in IPA. Identified themes included parents' experience of trauma, their concern about the vulnerability of their school-going children, and their support for their daughters' education. The findings produced a deeper understanding of the psychological implications of terrorist activities for the families, as well as their perception of the educational needs of teenage girls. Recommendations include providing governmental and nongovernmental support for affected parents and teenage girls. Contributions to positive social change include developing advocacy and resources in support of displaced parents and schools for improving the educational status of teenage girls in Nigeria.