Interesting Equity Information

A week ago Dr. Tedesco and I had the opportunity to be part of the Midwest Equity Update for school districts.  Some of the highlights were:

• Patrick Kerr, representing United States Office of Education Director Arne Duncan, talked extensively about the idea that all children have the right to supports that will afford them a high school education.  This may mean changing what programs we start students with and an emphasis on preschool services.  Director Duncan also believes that  what we do is imperative to economic development of the United States and our ability to compete internationally in 21st century skills.   If we do this right, we will also have supports to move students to enrollment in higher education after high school.
• Dr. George McKenna, Superintendent for the Los Angeles California School District. talked about his work in trying to provide equity for all students in a large urban district.  He challenged administrators to continue to remember that the main factor that effects student achievement is staff effectiveness and that professional development to accomplish this is imperative.  Class size is not always the answer - it is "great teachers" that make the difference.  Our focus as administrators should be on "teacher quality" not "teacher quantity".
• Other thoughts from various presenters:
• We need to look at students from and "asset" based instead of "deficit based" view.
• Students who are given a sense of purpose and power make them look at school different.
• When parents struggle to connect to school and programs we cannot shortchange or penalize their children.   We can't base our educational services on parents' behavior and involvement.
• As educators of diverse student populations we need to adopt the belief that we need to be "desperate" to make a difference with students and really believe that "we save lives for a living."