The murder of George Floyd in 2020 changed American culture, in part by invigorating interest in diversity, equity and inclusion.
For some schools, this meant making a commitment to diversity in their mission statements, as well as creating plans intended to increase equity. For example: The Santa Cruz County Office for Education spells out a number of “equity initiatives” used by schools in that part of California, including professional development for educators, improved strategies for grading student work and a support group for ethnically diverse educators.
But research has found that while schools mostly use similar language in their mission statements broadly, equity is a major exception. Comparatively few schools highlight equity or inclusion even when discussing diversity, according to Pew Research Center. And schools in conservative communities are also less likely to mention race, Pew reports. Meanwhile, some politicians like Florida Governor Ron Desantis are waging “anti-woke” battles, reportedly even pushing some teachers in states led by conservative leaders out of the profession.
And yet, politics has only increased the focus of educators on equity, according to a recent report from the education consulting firm NWEA. The report, “Equity: Definitions and Perspectives of U.S. Educators,” sought to figure out whether there was consensus among educators and administrators about what equity is.
The 61 teachers, administrators and district leaders interviewed did seem to share an understanding of equity, the report found: roughly defined as giving all students the resources and support they need to learn.
Personal, and Political
But a general consensus about equity’s definition doesn’t mean harmony over how to generate equity, nor does it mean comfort with the term itself.
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