By Focusing on Belonging, You Can Promote Equity

By Tyrone Howard

Belonging is an essential concept when discussing equity. The concept of belonging is centered on the idea that equity should be more than an ideal, that you must meet people where they are for them to get where they need to be. Belonging is centered on the idea that our all students want and need to be included, seen, heard, and valued. Our students want to feel like they belong, they are welcomed, in all of their identities, their gender identity, language, culture, racial identity, and ways of thinking and learning. A belonging framework is quite mindful of the diversity of students, and seeks to structure beliefs, practices, and policies that are always mindful of how our actions affect those on the margins. Belonging is predicated on the idea that no one is left behind, excluded, overlooked, or rendered invisible. Equity is not possible without belonging. Belonging cannot be attained without equity.

We cannot create equitable schools without being ever mindful of how we ensure that all students have access to opportunities and resources that they might otherwise be excluded from, such as those who come from low socioeconomic backgrounds, Students of Color, students who are linguistically gifted (Multilingual learners), students who are gender non-conforming and LGBTQ+ youth, as well as students with physical or intellectual disabilities and members or other minority groups. In practical terms, laid out in more detail in my book Equity Now, this means interrogating our instructional policies and practices with questions like: “Who might be excluded?” “Are we including all stakeholders?” “Does this policy make it harder for certain populations of students and their families?” “Who has been historically excluded?” “Does every family feel like they belong as part of a school community?” “Is this fair to everyone?”?

Belonging seeks to make sure that there are no discriminatory practices, and there is a concerted effort to remove barriers that prevent anyone from full participation in school opportunities.