Are you planning right now for how you will increase equity in your school next year? How will take significant steps towards ensuring all students achieve at high levels?

As the 2022-23 school year comes to a close, a flurry of activities are happening in schools and districts as they prepare for the 2023-24 school year. Actions are being taken which either further the pursuit of equity and all students mastering rigorous standards or continue to favor some groups of students over others. Summers are not quite times in schools despite the students being gone. Summers are a prime opportunity for furthering equity in schools.

I strongly encourage you to consider what you can do to improve equity in your school for next year as you make your plans, create your class lists, set schedules, and hire new staff. What changes in policies and procedures can you make to ensure that each student receives whatever it takes to master rigorous grade level content this next year. 

Here are some questions for reflection as you make your plans for next year.

• Who are the marginalized students in your school?  How do you know? What will you do to make sure they feel seen, heard, and included?  How do these students know that you expect them to master rigorous grade level standards?

• Do all of your students read on grade level or above by the time they leave grade 3?  If not, what will you do different next year to make it happen?  What is the evidence this new course of action will work?

• Are all of your students learning to read, write, and reason as scientists, mathematicians, historians, artists, etc.? If not, what will you do different next year to make it happen? What is the evidence this new course of action will work?

• Do all of your students graduate high school ready for College Algebra? (Even if they go to technical school, they need this level of math.)  If not, what will you do different next year to make it happen? What is the evidence this new course of action will work?

• Do all of your students graduate high school having successfully completed at least one advanced opportunity class? If not, what will you do different next year to make it happen? What is the evidence this new course of action will work?

• When poor attendance or mental health issues interfere with a student’s learning, what will you do to immediately get the student back on track?

• When your students are learning English as a second language, are they mastering rigorous content at the same time? If not, what will you do different next year to make it happen? What is the evidence this new course of action will work?

• How will you collectively support and hold each other accountable for ensuring all students master rigorous grade level standards? When you hear or see deficit thinking interfere with teaching all students to a high level, what do you do?

The wonderful thing about working in education, is the opportunity to continuously learn and grow.  In addition, you do not have to do the work alone. Collaborate with your colleagues to identify how to further equity in your school. Then continue to collaborate as you develop and implement plans. Lean on your colleagues when you hit a rough patch and support them when they are struggling.  And most importantly, celebrate together every step forward that you take! After all, it is your students who will reap the rewards of your hard work. All of our communities will prosper when all of our children are educated to a high level.

This blog is written by Dr. GwenCarol Holmes, a long-time educator and passionate advocate for all students mastering rigorous standards.