The Gates Foundation has committed to the issue of equity in education as one of its core domestic initiatives. In terms of taking a systemic approach, they have pledged $69 million to helping those who can least afford it, afford a post-secondary degree by age 26. (more…)
Looking at schools and focusing all efforts of reform in order to create the optimal system that serves all children is not the only place we need to work. It’s tough because schools tend to be insular, operating under the administration of school boards and superintendents who do not necessarily work with municipal boards and leadership (in fact they often don’t even communicate at all). Which is difficult, especially in New York State, where municipal borders and school district boundaries are not always coterminus. New Paltz Central School District serves students from the Town and Village of New Paltz, the Town of Gardiner, the Town of Lloyd, the Town of Rosendale and the Town of Esopus.
Why is this an issue? (more…)
Most of my posts are beginning to seem like a call for accountability. It’s not a bad word. Accountability is often seen as a threat in education. What is wrong with looking at what we are producing and taking responsibility for making our students the best possible learners, civic contributors and thinkers?
Reviewing posts, I realize that “equity” is a difficult term and warrants some discussion in and of itself.
The buzz is that the next secretary of education will be either a reformer or the status quo. (more…)
