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.
‘My Role as the Teacher’
by Karin ChenowethCovington High School, an hour north of Memphis, Tenn., is a high-poverty school and as in many high-poverty schools, some students arrive carrying the burden …
What Teachers Want Out of Their Preparation
by Daria HallAs lawmakers turn their attention to improving teacher preparation, they have access to a wealth of analysis about the quality of prep programs and recommendat…
CA’s Reed Settlement Supports Teachers, Students But Dodges Harder ‘LIFO’ Issue
by Ed TrustA court settlement in California this month represents a victory of sorts for 37 Los Angeles schools that have, for years, suffered from a revolving door of te…
A Much-Needed Occasion for Educators to Reflect, Collaborate
by Sonja Brookins SantelisesAs an educator for more than 23 years, I know — like you do — what it’s like to do the hard work on the ground; to not just observe the problem of deep educati…
Engaging Faculty in Efforts to Improve Grad Rates
by Joseph YeadoThis is the third in a four-part series that explores how high-performing colleges and universities use data to improve student retention and graduation rates.…
A Whirlwind Tour of Award-Winning Schools
by Karin ChenowethLast week I traveled to Pass Christian, Miss., to conduct a webinar with the leaders of the district to talk about the kinds of things that help move a distric…
What Do the SAT Test Specifications Tell Us?
by Christina TheokasThe College Board seems to be following through on its stated desire to make the redesigned SAT test more meaningful and reflective of the knowledge and skills…
Georgia State Shows the Way in Student Success
by Joseph Yeado and Michael DannenbergBelow is the second in a four-part series exploring how high-performing colleges and universities use data to improve student retention and graduation rates. D…
Improving Higher Ed Outcomes Starts With Smart Data
by Joseph YeadoBelow is the first in a four-part series exploring how high-performing colleges and universities use data to improve student retention and graduation rates. De…
#AccessMeans Opportunity for All Students
A national social media campaign is showing that, while sometimes tagged as lazy, this generation of millennials — especially those of color — are breaking dow…
Gainful Rule Is Exactly What Students of Color Need
Enough with the argument that the proposed gainful employment regulation is a disservice to black, brown, and low-income students. What the National Black Cham…
Less Testing Is Not the Answer
by Latasha MyersLumped in with the controversy around the Common Core State Standards is an anti-testing sentiment that fails to understand the repercussions of eliminating us…
It’s Not All Rosy in PISA Problem-Solving Data
by Allison HorowitzThe conversation around the new data from the Programme for International Student Assessment on students’ problem-solving abilities has demonstrated, once agai…
From Cowboys to Pit Crews
by Karin ChenowethI’ve spent 10 years focused on the lessons that high-performing and rapidly improving high-poverty schools have to teach us, and what I’ve found is that they h…
The Achievement Gap Affects High Achievers, Too
by Kati HaycockAs I journey around the country talking with educators working hard on “closing the achievement gap,” I have come to realize that the top tier of achievement i…
Why the Ryan Budget Is Bad for Pell Grant Students
by Kate TrombleRep. Paul Ryan’s fiscal year 2015 budget proposal, released today, offers up severe cuts ($791 billion over 10 years) to education and other non-defense progra…
Smart Common Core Fixes Mean New Yorkers Can Get Back to Work
by Daria HallFor months, educators, policymakers, and parents in New York have been embroiled in debate about the future of the Common Core State Standards. Some have surfa…