Equity in schools, or the lack thereof, was a problem before the COVID-19 pandemic. But the challenges caused by school closures and remote learning have exacerbated the lack of support for minoritized, special needs and low-income students, as well as language learners.
With schools reopening nationwide and an influx of stimulus arriving via the American Rescue Plan, educational leaders now have the opportunity to apply lessons learned from the pandemic. But what are the most effective ways to approach equity?
In a webinar moderated by USC Rossier Dean Pedro Noguera, Advancing Equity and Improving Outcomes for All Children After the Pandemic, educational experts offered practical guidance for schools hoping to address inequities as they resume in-person instruction.
1. Invest funds intentionally
Funds from the $1.9 trillion federal stimulus package are distributed with equity in mind, with low-income schools receiving more money-per-student than schools in wealthier areas.
However, school districts still control how the money will be spent. “Targeted intervention [for] groups that have suffered tremendously during the pandemic is what equity should be about,” said Tyrone Howard, professor of education at UCLA. Schools should invest in their most vulnerable and marginalized students to support their academic and social-emotional needs, especially given the pandemic’s disproportionate harm to these populations.
But rather than focus on small upgrades like a new textbook, school principals might think more holistically about how to use their funds, suggested Bruce Fuller, professor or education and public policy at UC Berkeley.
Here are some examples of how districts can invest in equity in schools as they reopen, according to the webinar’s panelists:
- Increase school counselors
- Expand early childhood education programs
- Diversify teaching staff
- Reduce suspensions and expulsions, especially for students with social-emotional needs
- Communicate individual school’s success with equity initiatives to other schools
- Increase one-on-one tutoring (if done at a minimum of three hours per week, per student)
2. Solicit—and listen—to feedback
Committing to equity as schools start to emerge from the pandemic requires leaders to solicit feedback from multiple stakeholders—including students. “Young people [are] full of creative and imaginative ways in which they want to think about learning. It’s we, the adults … who don’t want to reconfigure how we do schooling,” commented Howard.
Teachers can also provide valuable feedback. “We should involve them as co-designers” of recovery efforts, suggested Shaun Harper, provost professor at USC Rossier and founder of the USC Race and Equity Center. They can be a source of creative and practical ideas.
Additionally, schools can engage families and listen to what they need. “Without hearing from them, it’s difficult to think about recovery or reopening,” said Ana Ponce, executive director of Great Public Schools Now.
3. Learn from the benefits of the pandemic
While the pandemic has disrupted education in a variety of negative ways, the experience of remote learning hasn’t been bad for everyone. Some older students appreciate the independence of learning from home, while others find it to be a positive alternative to attending a school where they may be bullied or suffer anxiety, noted Howard.
Plus, while Zoom frustrates some teachers and students, technology can still be a useful tool. Young people “say they learn much more in the gaming space than the traditional classroom space,” Howard continued. By using technology in a creative way, schools can make learning a more interactive and inclusive experience.
During the pandemic, some schools have also successfully pivoted to more project-based learning, asynchronous activities, and outdoor classrooms as alternatives to traditional schooling.
4. Define equity indicators
The best way to measure a school’s equity efforts is to define indicators before implementing them. Here are some indicators mentioned by the Advancing Equities panel:
- Literacy in early childhood education (third and fourth grade, in particular)
- Suspensions and expulsions, especially for students with psychological problems
- Resources for college and career readiness
- Teacher satisfaction
- Psychological support for students
- Teacher retention, especially in urban schools
- Increased funding from states for historically underserved institutions
5. Reimagine support from school boards
School boards can have a significant impact on equity in schools by ensuring their districts have the tools they need. Creating an updated and robust database can play a vital role in identifying key needs, gaps, and opportunities for schools, said Howard.
But to maximize their support for equity, school boards should be “open-minded about new versions of schooling that will help us address long-standing inequities, and other parts of schooling that have been terribly ineffective,” suggested Harper.
Partnering with the nonprofit community can also be effective. Nonprofits generate some of the most innovative reform ideas for schools, commented Fuller, and school boards can advance equity by backing their creative solutions.
