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.
INFOGRAPHIC: The Nepo Babies of Higher Ed
College admissions have never been a level playing field. But, contrary to the current political rhetoric, when it comes to which factor gives applicants a big…
This Preschool Handbook is Essential to Early Learning — So Why Do Some States Want to Ban It?
Recently, Governor Kay Ivey forced the resignation of the secretary of Alabama’s Department of Early Childhood Education, Dr. Barbara Cooper, for allowing the …
Profiles in Education Equity: Qubilah Huddleston, P-12 Policy Lead for Ed Trust
Qubilah Huddleston is a P-12 policy lead, and she will help shape Ed Trust’s policy positions on equitable school funding. A native of Charlotte, North Carolin…
Educators Speak Up About How to Teach Climate Change
April is Earth Month — and this year’s awareness efforts come just weeks after the release of the latest international report that paints a dire picture of the…
Raising the Bar for Students Through Multilingual Education
by Oscar Jimenez-Castellanos, Ofelia Garcia, and Eugene GarciaThe U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona recently laid out his three education priorities for the year: Promote academic excellence Improve conditions …
Fugees Family: Offering Education Opportunities for Immigrant and Refugee Students
by Manny ZapataMauwa is a seventh-grade student at Teranga Academy, a school district partnership between Fugees Family and Bowling Green Independent Schools in Kentucky, whe…
The Latest Threat to Student Debt Cancellation
by Wil Del Pilar and Reid SetzerWhile we await the Supreme Court’s decision on the legality of student debt cancelation, the threats to President Biden’s executive order cancelling up to $20,…
4 Ways Education Leaders Can Respond to Anti-Black Rhetoric
by Phelton MossFrom about 1925-1961, Nannie Helen Burroughs, an educator and activist who started her own school in Washington, DC, required her students to take both an oral…
The Pell Grant Makes College More Affordable—But It’s Only a Sliver of the True Cost of Attendance
by Gabriela OliverosHigh school seniors are starting to get their acceptance letters, their financial offerings from colleges across the country, and that’s definitely a cause for…
Censorship is About Power, Not People
Amid the fierce debate surrounding what should and should not be taught in classrooms, some far-right-leaning lawmakers have introduced legislation and taken s…
What Parents Really Want: Less Politicking & More Attention to Students’ Academic & Mental Health Needs
The "parents rights" debate is an exercise in political bluster over substance. The recent introduction of the Parents Bill of Rights Act (HR 5) in the House o…
Addressing Chronic Absenteeism
by Hedy ChangChronic absenteeism has long been a problem and it is unfortunately on the rise. Before the pandemic, 8 million students were deemed chronically absent. But on…
Developing a High-Quality and Diverse Principal Pipeline
by Nathan KrihaWhat do you remember about your favorite principal? I, for one, have vivid memories of the fearless leader of Cossitt Elementary in La Grange, Illnois, Princip…
Why America’s Students Need Social and Emotional Learning Now, More Than Ever
by Ed TrustStudents continue to face a troubling array of challenges — ranging from school shootings to racial discrimination to housing and food insecurity — all amid an…
Rethinking Layoff Policies to Protect Teacher Diversity
by Eric DuncanThe “national teacher shortage” has dominated news headlines for months now, with states and districts investing resources toward ensuring that vacancies are f…
SCOTUS Hears Cases on Student Debt Cancellation. What Does it All Mean?
by Wil Del Pilar and Reid SetzerOn February 28, the Supreme Court heard arguments on two cases that have been holding up student debt cancellation for the 26 million people who applied. The f…
Want Economic Growth? Start by Investing in Child Care
by Carrie Gillispie and Antoinette WallerPoliticians often tout healthy signs of the economy: people getting jobs, buying homes, and going back to school. But in a recent Delaware survey, 4 out of 5 f…
LabXchange: A Digital Tool for Success in AP Biology
by Ilyana SawkaIn 2021, more than 200,000 students worldwide completed the Advanced Placement (AP) Biology exam. AP Biology aims to prepare high school students for two semes…
Data for Equity Webinar Series
by Ed TrustShedding light on inequities — in school funding; access to high-quality educators from diverse backgrounds; advanced coursework; or safe and culturally affirm…
Guess What? There’s Already Under-Representation in School Curricula
A contentious debate about representation in our nation’s school curricula has been rumbling — and it goes beyond the current focus on the AP African American …
