Educational equity refers to a process whereby everything is put in place for all children, regardless of their backgrounds (e.g., lower socioeconomic status, minorities, English as a second/third language children), can succeed without favoring one over the other, and not denying them opportunities for growth and instead, giving it to kids from privileged backgrounds.
Quite sadly, we need to recognize that education policy in this country has a poor history of true educational equity, with glaring commitments that prevent these bodies from making it a priority. The present educational equity structure is replete with several gaps and issues that must be addressed if there would be progress – no matter how insurmountable those challenges appear.
There is also the matter of political correctness that is hard to attain with this kind of duty. Nonetheless, if the educational system must rise to the ideals portrayed by fundamental American qualities and principles, this hard work must be done.
According to the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development), equity in education appears with two closely intertwined dimensions. These include:
Fairness: It means ensuring that social and personal obstacles aren’t obstacles to achieving educational potential. It bans discrimination based on ethnic origin, gender, or socioeconomic status.
Inclusion: It makes sure a basic minimum standard of education for everyone. For instance, all should be able to read, write, and perform simple arithmetic. If some students require more to get there, they should obtain it.
Educational leaders should take robust steps to introduce equity into their classrooms and schools. The following approaches may change teaching dynamics and better outcomes for pupils of all backgrounds.
Personalized learning: Educators have to develop the skills to comprehend pupils’ individual needs to excel academically. This typically necessitates implementing individualized lesson plans and advocating for individual pupils who might need tailored educational opportunities or resources.
Cultural responsiveness: Culturally responsive teaching is an important skill that all teachers have to implement within their classrooms. Pupils from diverse cultural backgrounds should be provided with a safe environment in which to learn.
Early intervention: Providing dedicated, personalized support at an early stage in the process is key to achieving educational equity. Early intervention may substantially impact a student’s future success by helping to foster strengths and develop crucial skills for overcoming challenges.
Community engagement: Education goes beyond the classroom and into the homes of students and communities. Educators should engage communities and families in the learning process. This will motivate diverse voices to review and rectify system inequities, further improving educational equity for all pupils.
