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.
Thoughts on Secretary Cardona’s Speech on ED’s 2023 Priorities
by Reid Setzer and Blair WristonU.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona addressed the nation on Tuesday in a speech called ‘Raise the Bar: Lead the World,” where he discussed the Departmen…
Teaching Tolerance Amid Contentious Turbulence
As the parent of a Black and Latino LGBTQ+ teenager, I worry for my child’s safety more now than when he was a fragile newborn or a precocious toddler. There h…
Two Stories That Prove Access to Higher Ed Courses Can Provide a High-Quality Education
by Ed TrustAll students deserve the opportunity to thrive. One way is to give high schoolers early access to college-level courses.Dual-enrollment programs are a powerful…
Who Belongs in STEM?
by Kristen HengtgenIn 10th grade, my high school math teacher casually told me that I “just wasn’t a math person.” I believed him immediately. Why wouldn’t I? He was the expert. …
Worried About Unfinished Learning? Ask Your District Leaders to Invest in Equitable Solutions Using ARP Funds
by Eliza KritzBy now, it’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately disrupted learning for students of color and students from low-income backgrounds. Wit…
3 Ways to Improve Educational Outcomes for English Learners in P-12 Schools
Like a growing number of students in the U.S., I learned English as a second language. My parents brought me to the United States from Mexico at the age of fou…
NAEP Scores Are Out. Sure, Results Are Bad. But Now’s Not the Time for Handwringing
Today, the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) released national-, state-, and district-level scores for grades 4 and 8 in mathematics and reading…
Profile in Education Equity: Devin Morris, Cofounder and Executive Director of The Teachers’ Lounge
by Ed TrustDevin Morris co-founded The Teachers’ Lounge in 2018 in Boston with then-business partner Jabari Peddie. They began this work because throughout their own K-12…
If Book Bans Continue, What’s Left on the Classroom Shelf?
Over the past year, more than 4 million students have had their reading freedom curtailed due to book bans. A report by PEN American reveals that these student…
Why Community College was the Best Choice for Me
by Hope BarrónTwelve years of school all led up to a moment often romanticized in teen dramedies, encouraged by educators, and the topic of conversation at countless family …
Is There Really a Teacher Shortage? Some Perspective and a “Challenge”
by Eric DuncanMedia outlets across America have been highlighting the “growing crisis” of teacher shortages, including 2,000 vacancies in Arizona. In Florida, they are allow…
The Case for Increasing School Safety by Investing in Student Mental Health
Even as the nation still reels from the tragedy at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas in May, gun violence continues to increase. And four years after the…
A Snapshot of English Learner Student Performance During the Pandemic
by Jazmin Flores PeñaThe COVID-19 pandemic has caused massive disruptions to student learning, as well as statewide assessments. Students have faced barriers to learning and engagi…
Profiles in Education Equity: Sandra Rodriguez, Advocacy Director at Latinos for Education
by Ed TrustSandra Rodríguez is a native Houstonian, daughter of immigrant parents, and the advocacy director at Latinos for Education, where she leads the organization’s …
One Solution to the Teacher Shortage: Tapping into the After-School Pipeline
by Soo Hyun Han-Harris and Priscilla ParchiaJosé Lopez-Garcia discovered a passion for teaching when he took a position with AmeriCorps as an after-school program instructor. Though he had to sign up for…
NAEP Results Show Dismal Learning Loss Due to Pandemic. What Can Be Done?
Today, the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) long-term trend scores in reading and math were released — the first national assessment of student…
What You Need to Know About Student Debt Cancellation
Yesterday, the Biden administration took a bold first step to tackling the $1.7 trillion student debt crisis in this country by providing limited student debt …
Biden Cancels $10,000 in Student Debt. But What Do Borrowers Really Want?
President Biden announced today that his administration will cancel $10,000 in student loans for federal student loan borrowers for individuals making less tha…
Black Women’s Mental Health and the Student Debt Crisis
Any moment now, the Biden administration will announce its plan to forgive student debt as the moratorium on loan payments will expire at the end of this month…
Restorative Justice Not School Suspensions: Disciplinary Reforms Help Students and Teachers Connect
by Gabriel ClarkAs students head back to school, they’re still coping with the complicated effects of the pandemic and the transition from virtual schooling back to more struc…
