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.
First Lady Touted Value of College; Here’s How to Find the Best One
by Kate TrombleYesterday, First Lady Michelle Obama spoke to a group of D.C. high school students about the importance of going to college. She told them that by 2020,nearly …
Looking for Big Gains in NAEP? Watch These States
by Allison HorowitzMuch of the immediate attention after last week’s data release from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) has focused on the big gains that Wa…
Preparing Effective Teachers and Leaders
by Kate TrombleEffective teaching matters. It’s what determines whether students learn how to add fractions or analyze the coherence of an argument in a text. It’s what keeps…
Want to Get High-Performing Teachers in Front of the Students Who Need Them Most?
by Marni BrombergThen there are some lessons to glean from an evaluation of the Teacher Transfer Initiative (TTI), a 10-district program offering $20,000 bonuses to high-perfor…
Having the Conversations That Matter in Ed Reform
by Blair MannThe ed reform world is fierce, as described in today’s POLITICO story, and too often, meddling in name-calling and Beltway politics takes priority over the rea…
‘Biometric Data’ Myths Linger In MI’s Common Core Debate
Michigan is (finally) moving forward with implementation of the Common Core State Standards after its state legislature gave the go-ahead to do so last week. T…
NAEP Shows Meaningful Gap-Closing, But Progress Is Slow
by Mandy ZatynskiToday's data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) show some meaningful progress toward improving academic performance and closing achiev…
Policy Should Learn From Practice
by Sarah AlmyLike most before it, a new book from Teach Plus explores how to solve the most intractable problems in education. But unlike most before it, the book looks to …
Ohio State Shows Why Demographics Don’t Determine College Outcomes
by Joseph YeadoBarely 3 in 10 black men, who are first-time, full-time students at public four-year colleges and universities, earn a bachelor’s degree within six years of in…
An Issue Both Sides Can Agree On? Fair Access to Quality Teaching
by Kati HaycockThe other day, I had what felt like an out-of-body experience. At a conference in Boston, I heard former U.S. Solicitor General Ted Olson — a man who had previ…
Introducing ‘The Equity Line’
by Kati HaycockWelcome to Ed Trust’s blog, The Equity Line. This is a blog for — and by — people just like you: those committed to closing the gaps in opportunity and achieve…
Fast Fact: For-Profit Colleges: A Risky Investment
by Ed TrustMany for-profit colleges are leaving students with massive debt and no degree. They represent just 11% of college enrollments, but receive 25% of federal stude…
Fast Fact: More Student Aid Going to Those Who Need It Least
by Ed TrustIn the 2011-12 school year, 39% of students from the lowest income families received grants from colleges’ own funds. But so did 38% of students from the wealt…
Fast Fact: Informed Parents Care
by Sela LewisAbout 1 in 2 Latino and black parents believe they have a strong influence on the education their children receive at school.* But to do this effectively, pare…
Fast Fact: “The State of Education for Native Students”
by Ed TrustWe can’t leave Native students behind. Between 2003 and 2011, NAEP results for Native students improved more slowly than for any other major ethnic group in th…
Fast Fact: Tougher Standards Hinge on Available Resources
by Ed TrustStates agree that the Common Core will boost expectations. But many report lacking enough money and people to implement the necessary changes in instruction an…
Fast Fact: College Access Doesn’t Necessarily Add Up to College Success
by Ed TrustCollege going is up for all groups, but most of the new white college students attend selective colleges while most of the new black and Latino students attend…
Fast Fact: Pick up the Pace in Closing College Completion Gaps
by Ed TrustHispanic enrollment at 4-year colleges grew a whopping 22 percent from 2009 to 2011, but at current rates only half of these students (51 percent) will earn a …
Fast Fact: All Students Can Achieve, Tell the House to vote “No” on H.R. 5
by Ed TrustH.R. 5 would return us to a time when states were given the “flexibility” to ignore the performance of low-income students and students of color. Our nation ne…
