Equity & Diversity

Diverse group of students

The U.S. Census Bureau predicts that by the year 2060, the U.S. will become a nation of minorities when the non-Hispanic white population no longer makes up a majority of the nation. These changes in demographics are reflected in the school age population and must be reflected in the classrooms and practices that teach these children.

In education, the term equity refers to the principle of fairness. While it is often used interchangeably with the related principle of equality, equity encompasses a wide variety of educational models, programs, and strategies that may be considered fair, but not necessarily equal. It is has been said that “equity is the process; equality is the outcome,” given that equity—what is fair and just—may not, in the process of educating students, reflect strict equality—what is applied, allocated, or distributed equally.
- The Glossary of Education Reform


Diverse group of young students with their teacher
Dr. Paul Gorski presenting keynote at Equity and Diversity Seminar

Multicultural education is a progressive approach for transforming education that holistically critiques and responds to discriminatory policies and practices in education. It is grounded in ideals of social justice, education equity, critical pedagogy, and a dedication to providing educational experiences in which all students reach their full potentials as learners and as socially aware and active beings, locally, nationally, and globally. Multicultural education acknowledges that schools are essential to laying the foundation for the transformation of society and the elimination of injustice.

The underlying goal of multicultural education is to affect social change. The pathway toward this goal incorporates three strands of transformation:

  1. the transformation of self;
  2. the transformation of schools and schooling; and
  3. the transformation of society.

- Dr. Paul C. Gorski

Click here to see a highlight video from Dr. Gorski.


On July 7, 2014, the U.S. Department of Education announced the launch of the "Excellent Educators for All Initiative."

The three-part Excellent Educators for All Initiative includes:

  • Comprehensive Educator Equity Plans ...
  • Educator Equity Support Network ...
  • Educator Equity Profiles ...

Resources

Guidance from U.S. Department of Education

Equitable Access Toolkit created by the Center on Great Teachers and Leaders

This toolkit includes:
  • sample equity plan template,
  • Sample State Plan to Ensure Equitable Access to Excellent Educations,
  • stakeholder engagement guide,
  • data review tool,
  • root-cause analysis workbook, and
  • moving toward equity tool.


Note: These webinars were recorded with third party service providers. To view these webinars, a plugin download may be required.

Improving Local Educator Equity Plans in Missouri October 25, 2018

C3 supports Missouri Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education's efforts to develop and implement strategies addressing equity issues in districts and schools spanning over three years of work.

"Moving Toward a Culturally Responsive Pedagogy: A Call for Action" Webinars November 10, 2017

Two 90-minute webinars supporting state education agencies (SEAs) in the implementation of their Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plans are scheduled for Wednesday, November 15, 2017, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. CT and Tuesday, December 5, 2017, from 2:00 to 3:30 PM CT.

C3/DESE/ADE Northwest Missouri Equity Lab #9 October 06, 2017

C3 is assisting the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) in developing methods to encourage and support local districts and schools in the development of local Educator Equity Plans by creating Equity Labs.

Support for Equity and Diversity (C3/SC3 Projects Update May 2016) June 01, 2016

Read more about the timeline the ongoing support C3, SC3, and collaborators have provided to build SEA leadership capacity to support districts and schools, with the ultimate goal of closing achievement gaps among diverse student populations and improving teaching and learning for all students. 

SC3 Project Update (May 2015) May 29, 2015

SC3 Support for State Educator Equity Plans:  The U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced the launch of the Excellent Educators for All Initiative in July 2014 to foster the recruitment and retention of quality educators in high-poverty, minority, rural, and urban school districts.  The Initiative calls for state education agencies (SEAs) along with district leadership, school leadership, teachers, parents, and community stakeholders to develop statewide educator equity plans by June 2015.

C3 Project Update (May 2015) May 29, 2015

C3 Support for State Educator Equity Plans:  The U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced the launch of the Excellent Educators for All Initiative in July 2014 to foster the recruitment and retention of quality educators in high-poverty, minority, rural, and urban school districts.  The Initiative calls for state education agencies (SEAs) along with district leadership, school leadership, teachers, parents, and community stakeholders to develop statewide educator equity plans by June 2015.

State Plans to Ensure Equitable Access to Excellent Educators Webinar 1 December 03, 2014

C3 and SC3 at OU invite you to participate in a webinar on Thursday, December 18, 2014, at 3:00 p.m. Central Standard Time to learn about resources designed to assist your state in completing your State Plan to Ensure Equitable Access to Excellent Educators.

Building Quality Schools in a Diverse School Setting: Equity and Excellence for All November 21, 2014

The Building Quality Schools in a Diverse School Setting: Equity and Excellence for All, Continuing the Conversation, presentation will take place on November 18, 2014, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Valuing Equity and Diversity: Considerations to Close Achievements Gaps October 30, 2014

C3 and SC3 at the University of Oklahoma are hosting a one-and-a-half day seminar on Valuing Equity and Diversity on Tuesday, October 21 and Wednesday, October 22, 2014.