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.
How the Build Back Better Act Will Dramatically Improve the Lives of our Youngest Learners
by Carrie Gillispie and Amanda GuarinoFamilies of kids under five face a particular set of challenges when it comes to child care. Early care and learning facilities across the country have shut do…
Redefining College and Career Readiness Through Critical Design
by Joanna Ali and Kia AllahCollege and career readiness are often assessed by indicators such as test scores and grade point averages. But there are other ways to forecast and encourage …
A New Approach to Supporting Students on Their Journey to College Graduation
by Lindsay PeckAs her first semester of college at Delaware State University began in fall 2020, Kadiatu Mansaray had a problem: She didn’t have a computer. While the first-y…
Blog Series: College and Career Readiness Through a Race-Conscious Lens
by Jonathan Davis and Wing Yi (Winnie) ChanGoing to college or entering the workforce after graduating from high school are quintessential milestones for our nation’s students. Preparing for these key l…
Funds for College Completion Are Essential for Educational Equity
by Reid SetzerRecent reports indicate that negotiations for the congressional reconciliation bill, the Build Back Better Act, are nearing completion. The draft bill includes…
Profiles in Education Equity: Jaleesa Jones, East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Jaleesa Jones has been a Louisiana resident for over 13 years and has served the students in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System (EBRPSS) in many capacit…
Build Back Better Act Is a Major Step Forward for Education Equity
by Reid SetzerThe Build Back Better Act contains several exciting and essential investments in early childhood education, school nutrition, higher education, and educator pr…
Strong Relationships are the Key to Understanding Students’ Experiences
Everybody remembers their best teacher. Mine is Dr. M, my graduate advisor and forever mentor. She’s someone I felt I could turn to for support, both academic …
How Schools Can Support Refugee Families and Students
by Wing Yi (Winnie) ChanThe indelible images of Afghans hanging onto the wings of American airplanes at Kabul Airport and Haitians being whipped while attempting to cross the Rio Gran…
Understanding Students and Their Families Who Are Experiencing Homelessness or Housing Insecurity During a Pandemic
by Sarah MehrotraWhile COVID-19 has disrupted the lives of all students and their families, those experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity are particularly vulnerable. …
How Advocates Can Ensure American Rescue Plan Funding Goes to the Students Who Need it the Most
by Reetchel PresumeBack-to-school season is usually accompanied by a spirit of optimism — and advocates have a reason to be hopeful. Bolstered by resources from COVID-19 relief f…
Preventing Suicide Amid a Pandemic
As if the deaths of nearly 700,000 Americans from COVID-19 weren’t depressing enough, the past two years have wreaked havoc on surviving Americans’ mental heal…
What’s the Big Deal with Statewide Assessments?
by Jessica MahoneyThe school year is underway — and educators, leaders and advocates are looking for data to make the most of learning time and to understand where to best alloc…
School Meals Are a Key Part of Educational Equity
by Sarah MehrotraAs many as 1 in 6 kids struggle with a lack of access to food. A serious issue prior to the pandemic, food insecurity in schools has only gotten worse since th…
Students Are Back in School Buildings, But Things Are Not Back to Normal
by Kayla PatrickMost of us remember having first-day-of-school jitters, but few of us have gone through what today’s students have experienced in the last two years. Students …
7 Questions to Ask Your District Leader About Where ARP Funds Are Going
by Kayla PatrickMany students are returning to school after long-term school building closures. As a result, many advocates and families are concerned about children’s physica…
Not for the First Time, Nor the Last
by Karin Chenoweth and Tanji Reed Marshall, Ph.D.In this final episode of the first season of Ed Trust’s new podcast, EdTrusted, Karin Chenoweth and Dr. Tanji Reed Marshall talk with two educational historian…
No Time for Silence
by Karin Chenoweth and Tanji Reed Marshall, Ph.D.In this sixth episode of Ed Trust’s new podcast, EdTrusted, Ed Trust’s writer-in-residence Karin Chenoweth and P-12 director of practice Dr. Tanji Reed Marshal…
Profiles in Education Equity: Gray Sterling, Washington State Partnerships and Engagement Consultant
As a Black, first-generation, former low-income student, and the firstborn son of an immigrant mother from Mexico, Gray Sterling has dedicated his professional…
The CRT Moral Panic, Teacher Censorship, and Becoming the Thing You Hate
by Nate BowlingU.S. conservatives tend to rip China for its political indoctrination and surveillance state. They also frequently criticize states in the Middle East for bein…