Defining Education Equity
Education Equity
The principle of ensuring that all students have access to the resources, opportunities, and support they need to succeed in school and beyond, regardless of their background identities, or circumstances. It emphasizes fairness, justice, and the elimination of systemic barriers that perpetuate disparities in educational outcomes.
Education Equity: Glossary of Terms
Diversity
The range of human differences, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, social class, physical ability or attributes, religious or ethical values system, national origin, and political beliefs.
Equality
Is the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities. It means each individual or group of people is given the same resources and opportunities, regardless of their circumstance.
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Inclusion
The members of an environment feel valued, respected, and included regardless of their background or identity. They have the same opportunities as others and are not overlooked or excluded.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)
Refers to practices and policies intended to support people from varying backgrounds and give them the resources they need to thrive in the workplace.
How Are Our Children?
Reflection of a community’s priorities and well-being. It’s not just a question, but a statement that underscores the importance of the next generation’s welfare. The answer is multifaceted when applied to the context of African American education in the U.S., especially in light of the Deferred Dream, the impacts, promises, and broken promises post the Brown v. Board of Education decision.
Breaking Barriers: A Holistic Educational Framework for Black Students
The principle of ensuring that all students have access to the resources, opportunities, and support they need to succeed in school and beyond, regardless of their background identities or circumstances. It emphasizes fairness, justice, and the elimination of systemic barriers that perpetuate disparities in educational outcomes.
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Education Equity: Action Steps
1.1. Address the over-representation and identification of Black children in special education, especially the labeling of students as “emotionally disturbed”.
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1.2. Identify community special education professionals to conduct assessments of students referred tospecial education units at their parents’ request.
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1.3. Incentivize state education agencies to conduct thorough racial equity audits of all schools with10% Black enrollment. Delegates from the Indianapolis City-Wide Coalition on Educational Equity should be included.
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1.4. Monitor the impact of new legislation on” absenteeism” that punishes families negatively, especially those students attending Charter Schools that do not provide school transportation.
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1.5. Create a framework for integrating a racial “lens” into forthcoming educational policies and legislation.
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1.6. Ensure that public and charter schools across Indianapolis have adequate funding that prioritizes neighborhoods with a legacy of educational disinvestment.
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1.7. Maintain statistics on the rate of expulsions for Black Students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12.
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1.8. Develop community suspension teams to reach out to parents of suspended and expelled students
with alternative educational spaces available in the community.
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1.9. Establish a Black student hotline to report acts of discrimination by teachers and administrators in
Marion County.
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1.10. Ensure funding related to African American student achievement, including the continued funding
of the IAAQLI African American Achievement and Leadership Initiative.
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1.11. Establish benchmarks and goals for Black student retention at Marion County School Districts and
the Department of Early Childhood.