If you look closely enough, it’s impossible to ignore the disparities in our education system.
I have worked in classrooms and district offices and am now in a role focused on systemic change; my mantra has never wavered: education equity is not optional—it is essential.
The students who are most often left behind—those from families with lower incomes, students of color, English language learners, and those who are neurodivergent —are the very individuals whose potential is most vital to a thriving society.
Ahead of this school year, California rolled out several new education policies that represent critical progress toward addressing inequities faced by today’s underserved students. These changes are a glimmer of hope that we can create a system where every child can access the
education they deserve.
But how exactly do these new laws meet the needs of our students, and how can we ensure that we don’t just stop at breaking down barriers but work to help each student reach their full potential in the process?
The Experience of Educational Inequity
I’ve heard stories of students working part-time jobs to help support their families or brilliant minds left behind because of language barriers. One can’t help but wonder how many more future doctors, inventors, engineers, programmers, or astrophysicists have gone undiscovered because they lacked the resources of their wealthier peers.
The pandemic showed us these inequities with brutal clarity. As educators, we watched students without internet access fall behind while those with privileged resources moved ahead. The lack of basic infrastructure, compounded by socioeconomic challenges, created a widening gap —a gap we are still struggling to close.