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.
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…
HBCU Enrollment is on the Rise. But On-Campus Housing is Scarce. Black College Students Demand Solutions
by Yemisi BadmusAccording to a recent New York Times article, Black students across the nation have been flocking to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to fi…
A Call for Less Harsh School Discipline Policies, Including Dress Codes
by Tameia WilliamsMounting research shows that students of color, and students who are disabled often receive harsher punishment in the school system as opposed to their White p…
July 2022 Update: Addressing Unfinished Learning, Student Debt, Justice-Impacted Students, and More
by Denise ForteIn Washington D.C. and across the country, Ed Trust has helped steer the nation’s attention on the scale and scope of unfinished learning due to the pandemic. …
It’s Time to Double the Pell Grant
I am proud to be the oldest son of Wilfredo and Lillian Del Pilar. Born in Puerto Rico, my father was a protestant minister. My mother — a New York native — wo…
A Dream Project, Staff Shortages, and Canceling the Ku Klux Klan—Wait, What?
by Karin ChenowethIn Episode 4, we hear from Melinda Young, superintendent of Steubenville City Public Schools, Kayla Whitlatch, Steubenville’s treasurer, and Lynnett Gorman, th…
Why Statewide Assessments Matter: Parents Need to Know How Their Children Are Doing
by Jerusha CapleAs a mom of three children, I make lots of decisions every day about how to support their individual needs. I’m involved in my children’s education and engage …
Leading the Way
by Karin ChenowethIn Episode 3, leaders in two states explain how they are using ESSER funds to pursue statewide improvement efforts. In Delaware, recently retired state superin…
