Category: achievement gap
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The Punishing Impact of Deficit Thinking on Schools
Gorski and Swalwell (2023) conclude that “inequity is the accumulative impact of the largely predictable and persistent outcome and experience disparities.” (p. 25) This succinctly summarizes the reality happening in the majority of our schools. The predictability of educational outcomes for students is maddening to educators who are working hard to help all students succeed…
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Cooperative Learning: A Powerful Tool for Equity
Cooperative Learning: A Powerful Tool for Equity (Part I) Equity in our schools means that every student masters, at a minimum rigorous grade level standards set by each state, graduating high school ready for college and/or career. This is a daunting task for educators that requires relentless dedication, use of research proven instructional methods, and…
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Tis the Season of Giving
Education for all is one of America’s greatest gifts. One of America’s greatest gifts is the idea of a free and rigorous public education for all our children regardless of circumstances. Each state in our vast country has adopted rigorous academic standards that are the expectation for all students to master. As we have grown…
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E Pluribus Unum
Out of many, one. E pluribus unum. This phrase or motto appears on the Great Seal of the United States. This is a goal our founding fathers put forth when they selected it as a motto in 1776: the thirteen colonies and their peoples coming together as one united, great country. (See https://www.greatseal.com/mottoes/unum.html). We must…
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Which is Best for Your Child: Acceleration or Remediation?
Remedial instruction conveys low expectations for some students. In an earlier post, I urged my fellow educators to provide acceleration, not remediation to their students who are performing below grade level. Providing remedial instruction to students behind in school has long been the default mode for our schools. This practice only widens the achievement gap…
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Acceleration, Not Remediation
Acceleration Supports Equity, Remediation Denys Equity Providing remedial education or instruction to students working below grade level has deep roots in our schools. Continuing such instruction is a problem. The use of remediation continues to deny equity to our marginalized students. Remediation is the concept that something in broken and needs to be fixed. As…
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Increasing Equity in the Next School Year
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…
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Does the Science of Reading Create Equity?
Proficiency in reading for all students is essential for establishing equity in schools. Students who are not proficient in reading are much more likely to drop out of school or graduate with a subpar education which in turn increases the probability that as adults they will have diminished employment and opportunities to fully participate and…
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Equity Is Denied When Blame Is Cast
Blaming others or circumstances prevents us from creating equity in our schools. Equity in our schools is defined by doing whatever it takes to ensure all students master grade level standards. For some students that means providing more supports than others may need. That is okay. That is equity. (For a more in-depth definition of…
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Meritocracy Undermines Equity
Equity in schools is often short circuited by our culture’s deeply held practices of meritocracy. Meritocracy is a deeply held belief in much of American culture, especially among those who are white, privileged and less aware of how positionality impacts others less fortunate than themselves. Meritocracy prevents us from establishing equity in our schools. While…