Seven Solutions for Education Inequality (2024)

Giving Compass' Take:
  • Jermeelah Martin shares seven solutions that can reduce and help to eliminate education inequality in the United States.
  • What role are you ready to take on to address education inequality? What does education inequality look like in your community?
  • Read about comprehensive strategies for promoting educational equity.

Systemic issues in funding drives education inequality and has detrimental effects primarily on low-income Black and Brown students. These students receive lower quality of education which is reflected through less qualified teachers,not enough books, technologies and special support like counselors and disability services. The lack of access to fair, quality education creates the broader income and wealth gaps in the U.S. Black and brown students face more hurdles to going to college and will bethree timesmore likely toexperience poverty as a American with only a highschool degree than an American with a college degree. Income inequality worsens the opportunity for building wealth for Black and Brown families because home and asset ownership will be more difficult to attain.

  1. Concretely, the first solution would be to reduce class distinctions among students by doing away with the property tax as a primary funding source. This is a significant driver for education inequality because low-income students, by default, will receive less. Instead, the state government should create more significant initiatives and budgets for equitable funding.
  2. Stop the expansion of charter and private schools as it is not affordable for all students and creates segregation.
  3. Deprioritize test based funding because it discriminates against disadvantaged students.
  4. Support teachers financially, as in offering higher salaries and benefits for teachers to improve retention.
  5. Invest more resources for support in low-income, underfunded schools such as, increased special education specialists and counselors.
  6. Dismantle the school to prison pipeline for students by adopting more restorative justice efforts and fewer funds for cops in schools. This will create more funds for education justice initiatives and work to end the over policing of minority students.
  7. More broadly, supporting efforts to dismantle the influence of capitalism in our social sector and supporting an economy thattaxes the wealthy at a higher ratewill allow for adequate support and funding of public sectors like public education and support for low-income families.

Read the full article about solutions for education inequalitybyJermeelah Martin at United for a Fair Economy.

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Seven Solutions for Education Inequality (2024)

FAQs

What are some solutions to education inequality? ›

Possible solutions to educational inequality:
  • Access to early learning.
  • Improved K-12 schools.
  • More family mealtimes.
  • Reinforced learning at home.
  • Data-driven instruction.
  • Longer school days, years.
  • Respect for school rules.
  • Small-group tutoring.
Feb 15, 2016

What are the four 4 social factors associated with educational inequality? ›

Unequal educational outcomes are attributed to several variables, including family of origin, gender, and social class. Achievement, earnings, health status, and political participation also contribute to educational inequality within the United States and other countries.

What solutions are there to solve inequality issues? ›

Governments can reduce inequality through tax relief and income support or transfers (government programs like welfare, free health care, and food stamps), among other types of policies.

What is a major cause of education inequality? ›

Income inequality and inequality in education often go hand in hand. Students who live in lower-income areas may have limited access to quality education. And, statistically, those from lower-income families are less likely to pursue higher education.

How to reduce inequality in society? ›

ADOPT FISCAL AND SOCIAL POLICIES THAT PROMOTE EQUALITY

Adopt policies, especially fiscal, wage and social protection policies, and progressively achieve greater equality.

What is the best solution for lack of education? ›

Governments and organizations must invest in building schools in underserved areas, providing scholarships and financial aid to disadvantaged students, and implementing policies that promote inclusivity, such as gender-sensitive and disability-inclusive education.

How does education promote equality? ›

Educational equality embodies the belief that every individual, regardless of their background or circ*mstances, should have access to high-quality education and opportunities for personal growth, making it crucial for fostering a just and equitable society.

What are the major causes of funding inequalities in education? ›

The disparity is caused by a number of factors, including: (1) capacity - how well off a state is based on their economy and resources, and (2) effort - the states willingness to provide funding for education.

What are the four principles of inequality? ›

It introduces four principles of inequality: the anonymity principle, population principle, relative income principle, and Dalton principle. It then explains the Lorenz curve, a diagram used to depict income distribution.

What are 3 ways to solve inequalities? ›

When solving an inequality: • you can add the same quantity to each side • you can subtract the same quantity from each side • you can multiply or divide each side by the same positive quantity If you multiply or divide each side by a negative quantity, the inequality symbol must be reversed. So the solution is x > −1.

What is an example of a solution to an inequality? ›

A variable in an inequality stands for all numbers that make the inequality true. For example, in the inequality x < 4, the x stands for all numbers less than 4. So x can be 0, 1, 2 or 3. The inequality 12 ≤ y + 5 can have solutions y = 7, 8, and 9, since 7 + 5 = 12, 8 + 5 = 13, and 9 + 5 = 14.

How can we fight inequality? ›

We can change the rules on tax to make sure the richest pay their fair share. We can demand more spending on public health and education. We can demand fair wages for everyone. We can stand up against the destruction of our planet.

How to fix education inequality? ›

Stop the expansion of charter and private schools as it is not affordable for all students and creates segregation. Deprioritize test based funding because it discriminates against disadvantaged students. Support teachers financially, as in offering higher salaries and benefits for teachers to improve retention.

How is lack of education a global problem? ›

According to the United Nations, 244 million children around the world are not in school, and 617 million children cannot read or do basic math. Young refugees are especially impacted by a lack of education, since schools in their home countries may close or they have to flee to another country with their families.

Why is equity in education important? ›

There's a variety of reasons why equity in education is important, including the following: It creates opportunity for underprivileged and underserved students so that they can overcome disadvantages and find success. It gives each student the chance to learn in the way that best supports their learning style.

How can we stop gender inequality in education? ›

Anti- Gender Bias Basics
  1. Address your students equally. Instead of “girls and boys” try to use “students” or “friends,” a wonderful category our preschool uses. ...
  2. Avoid separating children based on gender. Do you ask students to line up for the bathroom or recess by sex or gender? ...
  3. Learn about children as individuals.
Aug 15, 2019

How can universities reduce inequality? ›

Colleges and other post-high school training need to expand financial aid based on need and support services to compensate for the inequalities children experience before they get to college.

What is the difference between inequity and inequality in education? ›

Inequity vs Inequality: Why We Fight for Education Equity

The difference between inequity and inequality might seem small but really make a world of a difference. Inequality means people aren't given the same resources, treatment, or opportunities. Inequity is inequality in respect to needs.

What is an example of a social inequality? ›

The major examples of social inequality include income gap, gender inequality, health care, and social class. In health care, some individuals receive better and more professional care compared to others. ... In most societies, an individual's social status is a combination of ascribed and achieved factors.

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