Equitable Learning Conditions
It is both an American ideal and a responsibility to provide all students with an education that prepares them for college, work, and life, regardless of family income or neighborhood of residence. Unfortunately, key education resources are not equitably distributed and often low-income and minority students do not receive the high-quality education they deserve. Without adequate resources, all schools are not able to provide the same level and quality of staffing, facilities, textbook and equipment availability, and access to challenging academic coursework.
For high school students, these inequalities are made worse because federal funding intended to supplement the resources of schools in low-income communities are disproportionately allocated to grades K-6 instead of being directed to the areas of greatest need.
Policy Recommendations
To provide equitable learning conditions for all students, the Campaign for High School Equity recommends:
- creating a new federal secondary school improvement fund to turn around low-performing middle and high schools;
- providing sufficient resources to serve English language learners;
- offering federal incentives to encourage states to develop alternative school-finance formulas that minimize heavy reliance on local property taxes; and
- requiring states to compare and publicly report resources available to achieve a sound and basic education at every school; for states where inequities appear, developing five-year plans for equalizing resources and requiring a publicly reported biannual report that evaluates progress toward the five-year goal.
Read other priorities:
- All Students Proficient and Prepared for College and Work
- High Schools That are Accountable for Student Success
- A Redesigned American High School
- Excellent Leaders and Teachers
- Community Investment in Student Success
- Equitable Learning Conditions
- Common Core State Standards
- Expanded Learning Opportunities
- Effective Teachers