Closing the Gap: Creating Equity in the Classroom

School and district leaders grapple with a daunting challenge—they must reform policies and practices that currently contribute to opportunity and achievement gaps. Despite district and school leaders’ best efforts, students of color, low-income students, English learners, students with disabilities, and those who are homeless or in foster care are more likely to fail math and reading and are less likely to graduate. In order to resolve the achievement gap, historical practices that focus on educational equality, treating all students the same, must be replaced with efforts that advance educational equity, ensuring all students have the resources they need so they graduate prepared for success after high school.