Giving Compass' Take:

• Ashley Jochim argues that we need a new way to talk about educational equity - a problem that impacts individuals and the country as a whole. 

• How can funders best address this issue at scale? What resources do districts need in order to improve equity? 

• Learn about strategies for promoting educational equity. 

For much of American history, public education has been cherished as the engine of upward mobility even as it struggled to deliver on the promise of equal opportunity. While progress has been made, opportunities for public education to bridge the gaps between students and families of different circumstances remain severely compromised and may be getting worse.

Addressing all of the sources of educational inequality illustrated by students like Ally and Stacy will require a broader perspective, widening the lens beyond an exclusive focus on the historical issues of funding, segregation, and the achievement gap. This essay considers the changes in American education that are upending traditional notions of equity in education and offers ideas on how policymakers could act to address this issue in the future.

Expanding access to educational opportunity has defined debates over school reform for nearly a century, including desegregation efforts, finance equalization cases, and proposals to expand school choice. Despite notable progress in some areas, opportunity is more stratified than ever along the lines of race and class.

Read the full article about talking about education equity by Ashley Jochim at The 74.