12/18/2024

Educational Equity: 4 Proactive Steps for District Administrators

Equity in education is a crucial priority for district administrators because it ensures all students have access to a great education regardless of their circumstances.

But what does this look like in practice—and how can district administrators integrate these initiatives into their already-packed list of priorities?

This blog post will explore this question—but first, let’s define “equity.”

What Is Educational Equity?

The difference between equity and equality in education is stark. 

The Equity Collaborative defines equity within two parts: 

“Working toward equity means 1) Eliminating the predictability of success and failure as determined by race, gender, socioeconomics, or any other sociocultural factor, and 2) Interrupting and dismantling oppressive practices, structures, and policies that are barriers to access and success.”

Despite the American social order placing so much emphasis on “equality,” the reality is students come from a variety of backgrounds that are inherently unequal. An equitable approach to education means providing the individual boost that each student needs to be successful.

This classic illustration shows how a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t adequately address differing needs.

Interaction Institute for Social Change | Artist: Angus Maguire.

As the student population becomes more racially, economically, and linguistically diverse, equitable practices aim to bridge gaps in access, opportunity, and outcomes, ensuring each student can reach their full potential.

Framed in this way, striving for educational equity may seem like a monumental undertaking—and one that competes with many other crucial initiatives requiring your time and resources. However, there are many concrete, actionable steps you can take today to introduce more equitable practices in your district—it doesn’t have to be an overhaul, and it doesn’t have to be overnight. 

Every small step you take toward equity will propel your district forward—and its importance can’t be overstated.

Why is Educational Equity Important for District Administrators?

While achieving educational equity sounds like a tall order, the reality is that it touches on many of the implicit goals you’re already working on, such as:

1. Helping ALL students learn: As a district administrator, you’re responsible for creating educational environments that reach every student, regardless of background or ability. When you support all learners, you foster academic success, close achievement gaps, and contribute to the long-term well-being of the community. This is the heart of the job—and improving educational equity is the way to do it well.
2. Building trust with staff and students: Trust is essential in a collaborative school culture. When the administration tangibly demonstrates the importance of creating an inclusive environment, communication improves, staff members feel better supported, and students can be more engaged in their learning. Without trust, most of these aren’t possible.
3. Creating an inclusive learning environment: Ultimately, an inclusive approach to education leads to higher academic achievement, higher graduation rates, enhanced socio-emotional development—and a bright future. Promoting educational equity means better overall outcomes and more individual students reaping the benefits of a high-quality education.

These benefits are so crucial and so foundational to any positive educational experience that the importance of educational equity is undeniable.

4 Steps to Improving Educational Equity in Your District

Pursuing educational equity is a mindset—but it can also be quite practical.

You can make a huge difference in your district by taking proactive steps to connect with organizations already working toward educational equity, bringing in resources and outside funding. Professional development is another way to infuse equitable practices into learning. Best of all, your progress can be measured so you know how you’re doing and can stay on track.

Identify Strategic Partnerships and Collaborative Alliances

Many organizational leaders are already working hard to improve educational equity—and would welcome the opportunity to partner with you to make a direct impact in your district. A strategic partnership can provide resources, expertise, and outside support.

Some examples of organizations working toward educational equity include:

• Local nonprofits
• Community organizations
• Institutions of higher education

These organizations may already be equipped to support you with after-school tutoring, mentorship programs, access to technology, and more. They can amplify the impact of district efforts by creating a ripple effect in the community, potentially partnering with businesses to offer internships and real-world experiences.

Organizations that produce learning resources can also become powerful partners in bringing a more equitable approach to the learning process. Companies like Lexia® that produce curricular resources for literacy based on the science of reading are proven to meet every student where they are and guide them to continually improve. 

Products like Lexia® Core5® Reading (for grades pre-K–5) and Lexia® PowerUp Literacy® (for struggling and non-proficient readers in grades 6 and above) are designed to promote equity. They’re also proven to work—check out how they’re helping middle school students in Virginia with an equitable approach that empowers learners.

Maximize Grant Opportunities and External Funding Sources

One of the barriers to equity is adequate funding. This AASPA article on The Importance of Equity in Education cites a Department of Education study reporting that 45% of schools in high-poverty areas received less state and local funding than other schools in their districts.

Implementing equity initiatives requires funding that you may not have. Fortunately, many external funding sources are looking for opportunities to support equity projects like yours.

Federal, state, and private grants are available to school leaders who show how they’re reducing disparities and improving outcomes for underserved populations.

Here are a few possible funding sources to explore through the U.S. Department of Education:

• Promise Neighborhoods Program: Schools in high-need communities are supported by this U.S. Department of Education program to improve educational outcomes, health, and safety.
• School-Based Mental Health Services Grants: For those schools focused on mental health equity, the U.S. Department of Education provides grants to support mental health professionals in schools.

Outside of the federal government, private foundations also provide targeted support for school districts working to ensure educational equity.

Empower Educators Through Professional Development

Professional development is another critical way to promote educational equity. Educators are on the front lines of implementing equitable practices—and they need the knowledge, skills, and tools to be as effective as possible.

Taking an equitable approach to teaching literacy is an excellent way to have a widespread impact on equity across learners in your district. As the International Literacy Association says, “Literacy is the essential education, the learning through which all other learning takes place.” Closing literacy gaps will absolutely improve educational equity and have a profound impact on future achievement.

In addition to pulling in resources like Core5 and PowerUp, district leaders can adopt professional learning programs like Lexia® LETRS®, which empower teachers to deliver effective reading instruction and meet every student’s needs as literacy and language experts in the science of reading. 

Studies have shown 95% of students can learn to read using a curriculum that’s based in science. Educators who use these resources are able to differentiate instruction, close gaps, and provide an equitable learning environment that addresses every student.

Leverage Data for Informed Decision-Making

A data-driven approach will enable you to assess how various initiatives are working and to target interventions where needed, such as allocating additional resources to underperforming schools, tailoring professional development for teachers, or addressing systemic barriers like unequal access to advanced coursework.

Analyzing disaggregated data can be enlightening as you seek to understand how various groups struggle to overcome barriers to equity—and how you can help.

Here are a few examples of how disaggregated data can help you draw conclusions that inform decision-making:

1. Identifying achievement gaps: When you disaggregate student achievement data by race, income, language proficiency, and disability status, you can identify specific areas where students are underperforming as a group. For example, if Emergent Bilinguals are scoring lower on reading assessments, you could consider bringing in targeted interventions like bilingual education support or specialized teacher training.
2. Allocating resources: Analyzing data on per-student spending, staffing levels, and facility conditions ensures resources are distributed equitably. If you find that schools in low-income neighborhoods have fewer experienced teachers and outdated materials, you can prioritize balancing out those disparities.
3. Targeting outreach: By examining attendance records, you can identify trends in chronic absenteeism and implement additional support like family outreach and transportation options for students struggling to consistently get access to school.

Keeping a data-centric mindset allows you to make informed decisions and hold stakeholders accountable for their pieces of the puzzle.

Moving Educational Equity Forward

These proactive steps are achievable and could make a huge difference for the students in your district. The potential outcomes in the context of their lives are much more far-reaching than academic success alone:

• Social mobility: Equitable education opens doors to higher education and career opportunities, allowing students to break the cycle of poverty and achieve upward social mobility.
• Improved health and access to healthcare: Education is closely linked to health outcomes. Students who receive a quality education are more likely to make informed health decisions and access healthcare services, leading to better overall well-being.
• Cultural understanding and cohesion: Promoting equity in education leads to a greater understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures, contributing to a more cohesive and harmonious society.

Truly, there are so many profoundly important reasons to dive in. Ready to start the process? Check out Promoting Equitable Literacy Instruction for some guided questions designed for district administrators curious about the “how” of promoting equitable education.