What is Equity?

Presenters

Why Equity Matters to Me

Purpose for today’s work

“Closing the achievement gap is our moral purpose”

Dr. Ron Cabrera, TLT Retreat, 2010

Our Inquiry Together Today

What is equity?

Why is equity important?

How is equity connected to our work?

Outcomes

Begin the creation of a TSD Equity Framework

Build understanding of how equity impacts our daily work in TSD

Create common language around equity

Group Agreements

Respectful listening

Share your own truth

Confidentiality

Act with honesty and integrity

“When we begin listening to each other, and when we talk about things that matter to us, the world begins to change. Everyone has the capacity to be able to figure out how to make a difference. Listening and talking to one another heals our divisions and makes us brave again.”

--Margaret Wheatley

Listening to Each Other

Equity Dyad Guidelines

2 people: listener and talker are given equal time to talk.

The listener listens (resisting the temptation to interpret, analyze, give advice or break in with a personal story or comment)

Respect confidentiality. The listener doesn’t talk about what the talker has said to anyone else not even the talker afterwards.

Refrain from criticizing or complaining about the listener or others they know in his/her turn.

Educational Equity

“Equity means applying additional or different resources to ensure that all students receive what they need to succeed. Equity does not mean treating everyone the same.”

Adapted from EDEquity

Dyad Prompts

What comes up for you regarding the quote?

In what ways does this definition create resistance or tension in schools?

What are the implications for equity in your current position?

What do you understand equity to be?

Table TalkAs a group, develop a working definition of equity. Keep in mind the ways equity impacts your daily work and our moral purpose of closing the achievement gap. Use your creativity with a symbol, drawing, words, etc.

Post definition/representation of equity on the wall

Equity Is

Justice, fairness, and freedom from bias or favoritism

Legal and procedural rules and documents that serve to protect rights and enforce laws

Rights, claims, and ownership interests, especially as it relates to stocks and businesses

Merriam-Webster, 2010

What is Educational Equity?

“All students receive the individual support they need to reach and exceed a common standard”

School Improvement Network

Equity in EducationThe ongoing process (not a product) of increasing our own and society’s capacity and commitment to:

Completely respect individuals with different social, cultural, gender, and class backgrounds and values; andProvide the necessary resources to assist people in learning. This includes overcoming the effects of any mistreatment on the ability to learn– whether it be at the hands of individuals or institutions.

(Beccera, A. M. & Weissglass, J., 2004, p. 1)

In striving for both equity and excellence, we are aiming to create schools in which virtually all students are learning at high academic levels. We are aiming for schools in which there are no persistent patterns of differences in academic success or treatment among students grouped by race, ethnicity, culture, neighborhood, income of parents, or home language. In other words, we are aiming to foster schools that literally serve each and every student really well.

(Scheurich, J.J. & Skrla, L., 2003, p. 2)

Concluding Thoughts

“There is no “package” that can enable you to do equity work”

– Victor Carey, BayCES

Concluding Activity

Please write on a sticky note to leave with us:

What additional questions do you have about equity?

Thank you!