The Equity Line contains original analyses, commentary, and “on the ground” stories of students, parents, educators, and activists all over the nation striving to improve education. It chronicles our efforts, as well as those of partners and friends who are working toward the shared goal of closing gaps.
Why DEI Programs Matter to College Students
by Emmanuel MarshallI am a recent graduate of the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC). I am able to write this because of the Male Student Success Initiative (MSSI) at CC…
Addressing Mental Health and Wellness on HBCU Campuses
by Taliya JonesJuly is Minority Mental Health Month, and it’s time to shine a light on the mental health crisis in America, which affects students of color the most. Accordin…
A Unified Call to Reduce Chronic Absenteeism
In January 2024, EdTrust President and CEO Denise Forte testified at a House Oversight Committee meeting on pandemic recovery. Six months later, it resulted in…
A Policy Roadmap That Steers Students of Color to Success, From Pre-K Through College
One year ago, the 2023 Supreme Court decided to do away with affirmative action, which has had a chilling domino effect on race-conscious policies across the c…
Centering Student-Parents Can Help Foster Student Diversity
by Jessica LeeIt’s been one year since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the use of affirmative action in college admissions — a devastating setback for racial equity in hi…
How Summer Programs Can Boost Unfinished Learning
Summer is officially here — and for many students, that means summer school. But summer programs don’t come with the same stigma that they used to. These days,…
In Limbo: An Immigrant Student’s Path to a College Degree
My path to an undergraduate degree was anything but smooth.I'm originally from Lagos, Nigeria, and I moved to the United States in my early teens to pursue a s…
Toward Comprehensive Higher Education in Texas Prisons
by Alexa GarzaI spend a lot of time thinking about the profound significance of quality education for people who are incarcerated. Education has far-reaching implications fo…
Juneteenth was Freedom, Education is Power
by Denise ForteIn 1904, Mary McLeod Bethune founded a school in Florida with $1.50, five little Black girls, and crates and boxes she used for desks. Despite facing immense c…
How Students From Mixed-Status Families Are Doubly Damaged by the FAFSA Mess
Twenty-two million. That’s approximately how many U.S. residents are members of a mixed-status family, or families with at least one undocumented individual. O…
Profile in Education Equity: Julia Zammith, Policy and Advocacy Manager, Rodel
Julia Zammith is the policy and advocacy manager at Rodel, a nonprofit in Delaware that works with policymakers, people in the private sector, philanthropists,…
Why Queer Faculty Diversity Matters in Higher Education
by Dylyn-Turner KeenerAmid the evolving nationwide movement for LGBTQ+ rights and acceptance, colleges have become areas where the struggle for equality and inclusivity continues to…
Redefining Access and Support for Students of Color in the UC System
by Mia Elliott and Dylyn-Turner KeenerThe University of California (UC) system is often held up as the gold standard for student diversity, and was recently recognized for its improved student dive…
Transfer Students Are Key to Building a More Diverse, Better Prepared Teacher Workforce
by Judith CruzLeaders and advocates have focused on high teacher vacancy rates, but there’s no shortage of people who want to teach in Texas — our schools are employing more…
Marking the 70th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education and the Work that Remains
I grew up in the suburbs of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, attending public schools that offered me a lot of opportunities: field trips to interesting places, AP cl…
Why Districts Should Focus on High-Impact Tutoring Interventions as ESSER Funding Ends
by Alan SafranESSER dollars, or pandemic relief funds for schools, are running out at the end of September, and educators and policy leaders see a stark fiscal cliff ahead. …
Hiding In Plain Sight: How Complex Decoding Challenges Can Block Comprehension for Older Readers
by Rebecca Kockler and Rebecca SutherlandThe news about American students’ reading abilities isn’t good: For far too long, our education system has failed to teach many children to become proficient r…
Which Teacher Impacted You? We Asked, You Answered
by Ed TrustWe can all think back to an educator who ignited a love of learning in each of us. For Teacher Appreciation Week, and the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board, w…
Why I Teach, Where I Teach: To Ignite a Spark
by Anjali BhattEvery child has a spark in them that can be lit through a high-quality public education, but not every student has the resources and means to let them glow and…
Why I Teach, Where I Teach: To Build a Foundation for a Future
by Dr. Melissa CollinsFrom a young age, I knew that I wanted to become a teacher. When I was eight years old, I used to pretend to teach my neighborhood friends — I would imagine my…
