What is meant by equity in education?

Equity in education focuses on providing each student with the necessary resources and opportunities tailored to their unique needs, circumstances, and backgrounds in order for them to achieve success. This concept recognizes that students come from diverse environments and may require different levels of support to reach their full potential.

Choosing to give students what they need acknowledges those differences and promotes an inclusive learning environment. This may involve additional resources for students facing challenges, such as socioeconomic barriers, language differences, or learning disabilities, ensuring that every student has a fair chance to thrive academically.

In contrast, the notion of providing all students with the same resources does not account for individual needs and can perpetuate inequities, as not all students benefit from uniformity. Similarly, ensuring equal funding for all schools does not guarantee that the resources align with the specific needs of the student populations served. Standardizing tests for all students assumes a uniform learning experience and does not consider varying levels of preparedness or support, which can diminish the effectiveness of assessment in measuring true student learning and achievement.