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.
What Research? And What Exactly Does It Show?
One of the most annoying phrases in education is “research shows.”That bland phrase is used to cover a multitude of sins, which is why many teachers groan when…
Mapping Out College Choices
by Mandy ZatynskiEd Trust is currently at the National Council of La Raza, or NCLR, annual conference in Los Angeles, where we are showcasing our College Results Online tool. U…
Let’s Go Over This Again — A Quart Is One QUART-er of a Gallon
When my kids were in third grade, they spent an enormous amount of time on the graphical representation of data. That sounds like a good idea, but some of it g…
Don’t Be Duped by ‘Personal Learning Scholarships’ in FL, AZ
Parents want some authority over their child’s education, and who can blame them? But programs like the personal learning account program approved in Florida l…
School Leadership Matters to Teachers
How can high-poverty schools become the kinds of places teachers want to teach?Stephanie Hirsch, executive director of Learning Forward, tackled that question …
Curriculum vs. Standards in the Common Core Debate
An important distinction needs to be made between standards — which outline what students should know and be able to do at each grade level — and curriculum — …
50 Years Later: This Is Not a ‘Post-Racial’ Society
by Deborah VeneyToday is the anniversary of a historic event: the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It is hard to argue that America hasn’t come a long way. Measured by…
Opportunity Gaps Drive Achievement Gaps for African American Students
by Allison HorowitzData show that African American students don’t get the same opportunities and resources to excel as their peers do. And unfortunately, those shortcomings contr…
Dispelling Myths About ‘Tough Love’ — Part Two
by Michael Dannenberg and Mary Nguyen BarryNearly 300 positive and negative comments came into The New York Times editorial page earlier last week after it favorably discussed Ed Trust’s new report, Tou…
Dispelling Myths About ‘Tough Love’
by Michael Dannenberg and Mary Nguyen BarryUPDATEDNearly 300 positive and negative comments came into The New York Times editorial page earlier this week after it favorably discussed Ed Trust’s new repo…
‘Tough Love’ Hurts: Tying Federal Aid to Performance Makes Colleges Squirm
by Deborah VeneyLast week, we released the report Tough Love: Bottom-Line Quality Standards for Colleges. It stepped boldly into a space many have been afraid to enter, by cal…
Federal Tax Benefits Can’t Come for Free
by Mary Nguyen Barry and Michael DannenbergWith more than 15 different education tax benefits and 90 pages of IRS guidance, it’s amazing anyone can navigate the tax code to access the various deductions…
A Window Into Complexity
When my children were in elementary school, I did a stint as PTA president, and one of the first things I learned was that I had a lot to learn.Newly elected a…
We Can’t Close the Achievement Gap Without Focusing on Latino Students
by Allison HorowitzLatino students are the fastest-growing major ethnic group in U.S. public schools. By 2023, they will make up nearly 1 in 3 public school students. So their ac…
Fast Fact: Colleges Need Some ‘Tough Love’
by Ed TrustThe Appeal of an Appeal in Vergara
by Ed TrustJudge Rolf M. Treu’s historic Vergara decision last week reverberated from the Los Angeles County Superior courthouse to every media outlet, union headquarters…
More Than Just a Game: Degree Attainment Around the World (Cup)
by Joseph Yeado and Kayle BarnesDefying commentators, critics, and prognosticators, the U.S. has already performed quite well against the other nations competing for the 2014 World Cup. Yes, …
