Reviewing Education Policies to Advance Equity. Systemic Equity Review

Overview & Synopsis

Education policies serve as potent tools for advancing equitable outcomes and systematically addressing inequities in schools and districts. But education policies often mirror inequities and bias-based beliefs within the K-12 education system. Increasing educational equity is key to overcoming the status quo and improving educational outcomes for historically disenfranchised students in K-12 public education. This brief explores five critical equity domains that education practitioners can use to examine and assess how equitable their education policies are: (1) Focus on educational equity and access; (2) Rejection of bias-based beliefs; (3) Student, family, and community involvement; (4) Evidence base and data practices; and (5) Support for culturally responsive-sustaining education. [Funding for this report was provided by WestEd's Strategic Investment Fund.]