Ann Arbor Times

Matthew Kautz, an assistant professor at Eastern Michigan University, has been awarded the 2025 National Academy of Education (NAEd)/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellowship. This fellowship will support his book "Punishing Promise: School Discipline and Carceral Expansion during the Era of Desegregation," which is under contract with the University of Pennsylvania Press.

The book examines how resistance to school desegregation in Boston during the mid-20th century increased schools' carceral roles. Kautz's research shows how opposition to integration influenced policies that contributed to mass incarceration in the U.S.

“This work is inspired by my time as an educator in Detroit, Chicago, and New York, where I witnessed students with incredible potential navigating systems that were too often hostile to their growth,” said Kautz. “I wanted to understand how schools became so closely linked to policing and why that connection was so immediate and enduring.”

Kautz's arguments have appeared in a recent article in the Harvard Educational Review and a companion podcast. He also co-led a project funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities on activism related to segregation in Detroit.

His work provides insights into education policy today, especially regarding disciplinary enforcement post-COVID-19. “By understanding how school discipline is tied to broader systems like policing, prison infrastructure, and labor market conditions, we can better respond to inequities in education,” said Kautz. “Just as important, my research highlights how students imagined more just and supportive schools. Their resistance and vision offer blueprints for meaningful reform.”

The fellowship will allow Kautz time to revise his manuscript and host a workshop with scholars and activists for feedback. “I’m extremely grateful and humbled to receive this fellowship,” said Kautz. “It shows the importance of historical research in confronting today’s educational challenges and reminds me of the responsibility to make this work impactful and accessible.”

For more information about the NAEd/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellowship, visit their website.

Eastern Michigan University was founded in 1849 as Michigan's second oldest public university. It serves nearly 13,000 students across various disciplines through its colleges.