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.
Are Institutions Improving Overall Grad Rates But Leaving Black Students Behind? A Q&A With Andrew Nichols
by Nicolle Grayson and Andrew Howard NicholsToday, we released a new analysis, looking at a decade of graduation rates among African Americans at four-year, public institutions that improved overall stud…
Don’t Balance the Budget on the Backs of Students Most in Need
by Robyn Hiestand and Kimberlee Eberle-SudreJust a few months ago, Congress passed — and the president signed into law — a bipartisan budget agreement for 2016 and 2017. However, it now appears that Repu…
Both Sides of the Gap
by Ashley Lamb-SinclairAshley Lamb-Sinclair is the 2016 Kentucky Teacher of the Year. She teaches English and creative writing at North Oldham High School, a high-achieving school no…
Breakfast: Fuel for School
On any given day last school year, 4 percent more — or 475,000 — students received breakfast at school, as part of the national School Breakfast Program, than …
On HEA, Congress Should Focus on Resources and Accountability
by Matt de Ferranti and Daria HallAs Congress begins conversations about reauthorizing the Higher Education Act (HEA), Kati Haycock laid out two priorities for lawmakers this week that could he…
On-The-Job Teacher PD: Getting It Right
by Marni BrombergOne Wednesday afternoon nearly a decade ago, I sat with all the other teachers at my school for a professional development (PD) workshop. Our district office h…
Elmont and Malverne: A Window on the ‘Scalability’ Question in School Improvement
by Karin ChenowethOne of the big questions in the field of education is what is sometimes called “scalability.” That is, how can we use the expertise developed in one school to …
Although ESSA Provides More Flexibility, Feds Must Remain Steadfast on Equity
Much of the public rhetoric about the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) — including that of some of the witnesses in yesterday’s Senate hearing — has trumpeted…
Why I Teach Where I Teach: My Work Is As Diverse As My Students
by Rebecca FriedmanRebecca Friedman is a National Board Certified teacher at Thomas Jefferson High School, an International Baccalaureate and AVID school in Auburn, Washington. T…
Higher Education’s Critical Role in Increasing Opportunity in America
by Jose Luis Santos and Kati HaycockBoard members who want to be great stewards of the institutions they are entrusted to lead — today and into the future — must ensure two things: that they trul…
This Fall, Don’t Short Pell Students
by Robyn HiestandIt’s 2016 — an election year. It is the last year that President Obama will submit a budget to Congress, while issues of student loan debt and college costs ar…
Lessons From ‘Butterfly Gardens’
by Brooke HaycockAs we prepare to release the fourth installment of Ed Trust’s Echoes from the Gap series, I am excited to introduce readers to five extraordinary young men and…
Honoring Native American Language and Culture to Raise Achievement
by Samantha WaulsSamantha Wauls was an intern at Ed Trust through December 2015. She previously taught high school English and third grade on her maternal grandmother’s tribal …
Where Is All the Classroom Chatter?
by Carlton JordanCarlton Jordan, guest blogger, is an independent consultant who is working on our forthcoming revised Assignments Analysis framework. He was also previously a …
Between the Echoes: Where the Clocks Stand Still
by Brooke HaycockAn offshoot of Ed Trust’s Echoes From the Gap series, drawing stories of students from behind the statistics, this blog series shares shorter narratives — brie…
Two Dispelling the Myth Principals Talk About Believing in Kids
by Karin ChenowethI was lucky enough to speak a few weeks ago at Learning Forward, an organization dedicated to the professional growth and development of educators.It was great…
ESSA: Just a Big Present to Adult Interests? Think Again!
by Kati HaycockThis op-ed first appeared at The Hechinger Report.President Obama just signed a new version of the nation’s main K-12 education law, passed by overwhelming bip…
Belief in Students Drives Success
by Karin ChenowethI have become convinced that the main reason some schools can be successful with students whom other schools would write off is that the teachers and administr…
A Decade of Gains and Gaps in College Graduation Rates: A Q&A With Kimberlee Eberle-Sudré
by Gail Zuagar and Kimberlee Eberle-SudreToday, we released a new analysis, looking at a decade of graduation rates at four-year, public institutions. The report — titled Rising Tide: Do College Grad …
Teacher Vacancies: Hard to Staff, But Not Impossible
by Marni BrombergAs part of our ongoing work with districts that are working to fix inequitable staffing patterns, we recently checked in with a human capital officer in a larg…