The Equity Line contains original analyses, commentary, and “on the ground” stories of students, parents, educators, and activists all over the nation striving to improve education. It chronicles our efforts, as well as those of partners and friends who are working toward the shared goal of closing gaps.
“We have the opportunity and I hope we don’t waste it”
Jennifer Robbins, principal of Ladd Acres Elementary School in Hillsboro, Oregon, has been collecting and studying data about which of her school’s students ar…
Schools Might Be Closed, But Families Still Deserve Data on Student Learning
by Terra Wallin and Sarah MehrotraNearly 9 in 10 parents are worried about their children falling behind academically due to coronavirus-related school closures, according to recent Ed Trust po…
“This is going to make our system better”
After delivering 10,000 devices, thousands of Wi-Fi hot spots, and 300,000 meals per week, Mobile County Public Schools created a hybrid system of instructiona…
Getting To & Through College: Notes From the COVID-19 Pandemic
Getting to and through college is challenging enough in normal times. Enter the COVID-19 pandemic, which is making things harder for everyone, particularly for…
Promising Practices of Distance Learning During COVID-19
Most schools are now several weeks into distance learning, and many districts are striving to address the myriad challenges in serving students with a focus on…
Supporting Students in the Transition from High School to College During the COVID-19 Crisis
Senior prom and high school graduation are two rites of passage most of us have enjoyed, possibly even taken for granted. But this spring, high school seniors …
“Our schools were not built for this”
That sounds like an obvious statement, says Daniel St. Louis, principal of University Park Campus School (UPCS) in Worcester, Massachusetts. But “a big part of…
“We would be wrong to believe that education won’t be transformed forever”
“It hurts my heart tremendously” to know that gaps in achievement will grow during the shutdown of school buildings, says Jennie Black, principal of Washington…
Appreciating Teachers of Color
by Eric DuncanEver since Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) moved to online classes due to COVID-19, Keara Williams, a South L.A. high school teacher, has been call…
Recognizing Teachers Who Teach Advanced Coursework
APUSH: That’s the sardonic acronym that students in our neighborhood high school call Advanced Placement United States History. To most ninth graders — includi…
“We’re trying not to overwhelm them, because they are living through a pandemic.”
Before their school building closed, teachers and leaders at Garfield Prep Academy in Washington, D.C., learned as much as they could about COVID-19 and shared…
“Why Did We Even Think That Could Work?”
Educators in Steubenville, Ohio, have been scrambling ever since hearing that their schools might close. With no clear standards for how to operate schools rem…
When it Comes to Social Emotional Development, Relationships Matter, Especially During COVID-19
Last year, I spent four months traveling around the country interviewing students and families of color about how schools could do a better job supporting thei…
“There Are So Many Unknowns.”
Corey Miklus became superintendent of Seaford (Delaware) Public Schools in January. On March 13 he closed the buildings to students. “These are some challengin…
A Life Sentence Transformed Into a Life’s Work: An Interview with Chris Wilson
by Crystal AmuzieAt 17 years old, Chris Wilson was sentenced to life in prison. Now 41, he recalls that moment and says, “It was like receiving a death sentence.” But after 16.…
“They are rising to the challenge”
“This is different. This is hard for some of our parents. We have to show compassion and patience,” says Faith Belle-Lucy, principal of Dr. Robert W. Gilliard …
What Can COVID-19 Teach Us About Prioritizing Childcare? A Parent’s Perspective
by Amanda ColemanFor the past five weeks and counting, I have been a mother, teacher, and friend to my two- and four- year old daughters while also working full-time from home.…
Creating the New Normal Day by Day
We are “creating the new normal,” Superintendent Dr. Nicholas Stirling says. As his schools closed this spring, Valley Stream 30 in Nassau County, New York, ph…
“Let’s teach….But remember the context.”
Sergio Garcia, principal of Artesia High School in the ABC Unified District in Los Angeles County, says he tells his teachers: “Let’s try to teach.” But, he ad…
Maintaining Relationships in a Distance Learning World
On March 11, Malverne High School in Nassau County, New York, collected cell phones from their students in an attempt to help them become more mindful and focu…
