What is educational equity?

Equality vs. Equity: What’s the Difference?
What are some issues of equity in education today?
Download a fact sheet about these issues in Hamilton County schools >
Case Studies & Articles
Topic: Teacher Diversity
Lack of Teacher Diversity Jeopardizes Student Achievement >
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Diversity among students is now the majority, but diversity among teachers widens
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Having racially diverse teachers provides students cultural understanding of the world around them
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Two decades ago, 26% of teachers were people of color, today it’s 18%
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Teachers of color are often employed in districts that are minority-majority/struggling with budgetary issues, stagnant pay, poor facilities, and limited resources
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Policies need to be put into place to support teachers of color (such as scholarships, training, and funding)
Topic: School Discipline
Restorative Discipline Makes Huge Impact in Texas Elementary and Middle Schools >
Helpful terms:
Restorative Discipline – A whole-school relational approach to building school climate and addressing student behavior.
Key Points:
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Restorative discipline helps teachers build relationships and changes the culture and climate of a school
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Talking circles are used to show all students and faculty are valued and have input in decisions
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Closes the school-to-prison pipeline by reducing the number of suspensions
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Respect agreements provide students with empathy and accountability
Topic: Zoning Policy
Understanding Exclusionary Zoning and Its Impact on Concentrated Poverty >
Helpful terms:
Concentrated Poverty – The poverty rate of an area or school is 40% or more
Exclusionary Zoning – Policy that keeps affordable housing out of neighborhoods through land use and building code requirements
Key Points:
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Exclusionary zoning practice has been around since early 20th century as a vehicle for racial discrimination in the housing sector
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Fair Housing Act of 1968 prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, ability, and familial status. Notably, however, it does not prohibit class-based discrimination.
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Exclusionary zoning has expanded into the urban core as wealthy and largely white families move back into cities, pushing the poor and minorities out
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Exclusionary zoning promotes income segregation by creating areas of concentrated poverty and concentrated wealth
Topic: Resource Allocation & Funding
The Gap Between Rich and Poor Schools Grew 44 Percent Over a Decade: Growing Money Gap Across 30 States >
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A national funding gap of $1,500 per student between rich and poor schools has grown 44% since 2001-2002
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Under President Johnson’s War on Poverty, federal dollars were meant to close the poverty gap
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States that rely heavily on property taxes have not figured out a way to close the gap between the rich and poor schools
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Under law, schools are financed through districts but a policy could require states to finance schools comparably between districts