Bridging the Disparity Gap & Understanding Equity
Michelle Chanda S.
Disengagement Disruptor ? Helping women education leaders of color disrupt the status quo + lead authentically & balanced. Education Leader ? TEDx Speaker ? Best-Selling Author. Elevate your impact + honor your worth????
Harnessing the Power of Equity in Education
As Malala Yousafzai once said, "Education is the great equalizer, but it's only equal if it's accessible to all."
Unfortunately, the reality is that quality education is not accessible to all, particularly to students of color and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. I know this all too well as a student of color who came from a low socioeconomic background. This is not just my story but the story of countless others like me, my brother, cousins, and childhood friends.?
The truth is that we went to schools where we were blessed to have teachers, most of whom truly cared about us. Having teachers like Dr. Connor Miller, Mrs. Demmeritte, Mrs. Mar, and Mr. Van Culin in our corners somewhat masked the limited resources our school communities had access to. But as kids, we did not know what we did not have, and it wasn't until later that we realized what we were missing out on in terms of opportunities and access to resources.?
That is why bridging the disparity gap is crucial for educational equity. Studies have shown that addressing the root causes of disparities based on socioeconomic status, race, and cultural background can significantly impact student outcomes. But first, let's start with the basics. There are three considerations about the disparity gap and equity in schools that we need to address.
The first consideration is acknowledging that disparity gaps still exist.
We have come a long way from the desegregation of schools in years, but not in progress. The disparity gap persists in achievement, discipline, access to resources and opportunities, graduation rates, and others. And these gaps are often related to systemic barriers such as poverty, racism, and discrimination. When you have legislation that prevents certain groups from learning the absolute truth about their history, that is racism and discrimination. For example, the recent Florida legislation that "Bars K-12 schools and public colleges from adopting any instructional materials or engaging in any professional development programs that "espouses, promotes, advances, inculcates, or compels belief in certain ideas about race, sex, color, or national origin" is just one reason why acknowledging that disparity gaps exist and being aware of the root causes such as racism and discrimination is crucial.
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The second consideration is equity.
It's important to focus on equity, not equality, in education. Equity acknowledges that different students have different needs, experiences, and circumstances and seeks to address those differences to ensure that all students have the opportunity to succeed. Conversely, equality treats all students the same, regardless of their individual needs and experiences. Equality assumes that all students start from the same place and need the same support, which can be untrue and unfair. Focusing on equality can perpetuate and reinforce existing disparities rather than close gaps and promote equal opportunities.
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The third consideration is taking tangible actions to address and dismantle the systems and structures that perpetuate these existing inequalities.
As teachers, we can raise awareness about the ongoing challenges that students from specific backgrounds face in accessing quality education, create a sense of accountability among educators, our communities, and even policymakers to work towards creating a more equitable education system and support educational programs and initiatives that help marginalized communities, programs that promote diversity.
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In conclusion, education is the foundation of a fair and just society, but we cannot truly achieve that until education is accessible to all.
Acknowledging the existing disparity gaps, focusing on equity rather than equality, and taking tangible actions to dismantle the systems and structures perpetuating these inequalities are all essential to achieving educational equity. As individuals, we can raise awareness, create accountability, and support programs that promote diversity and help marginalized communities. As a society, we must work together to ensure that education is indeed the great equalizer that Malala Yousafzai envisioned. Let us all do our part to make quality education accessible, regardless of race, socioeconomic status, or cultural background.