Equity
It remains a critical challenge to ensure all children—regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status, and/or ability—have access to a high-quality education. We are at a pivotal time where communities and schools are navigating issues of equity, poverty, and opportunity gaps against a backdrop of shifting education policy. With access to exceptional data and a multi-disciplinary team of researchers and research partners, we are able to provide unique insight into these important issues.


NWEA data predicts students could be up to a year behind in math in the fall
New research by NWEA, a nonprofit assessment provider, predicts that because of school closures, some students could be as much as a year behind in math when they start school in the fall.
Education Dive
Mentions: Megan Kuhfeld, Beth Tarasawa
Topics: COVID-19 & schools, Equity, Seasonal learning patterns & summer loss


New research findings provide a call to action: now is the time to plan for how school must be different next year to address learning gaps widened by the pandemic.
The 74
Mentions: Megan Kuhfeld, Beth Tarasawa
Topics: COVID-19 & schools, Equity, Seasonal learning patterns & summer loss


COVID-19 school closures could have a devastating impact on student achievement
“Given NWEA’s depth of research and our partnerships with other mission-driven organizations, we’re in a unique position to offer valuable insights to the education community as we navigate through this crisis”, says CEO Chris Minnich. “Together, we can mitigate the impact on kids—especially for those most vulnerable in our population—and continue our efforts to narrow opportunity gaps.”
By: Megan Kuhfeld, Beth Tarasawa
Topics: COVID-19 & schools, Equity, Seasonal learning patterns & summer loss


6 ways to support students with disabilities during COVID-19 school closures
As COVID-19 pushes us toward distance learning, we can make small adjustments to online instruction to better meet the specific learning needs of students with disabilities.
By: Elizabeth Barker
Topics: Equity, Accessibility, COVID-19 & schools


Homeschooling during the coronavirus will set back a generation of children
Long breaks are damaging. Virtual learning is erratic. The stakes are high.
The Washington Post (2020, March 27)
Mentions: Megan Kuhfeld
Topics: COVID-19 & schools, Equity, Seasonal learning patterns & summer loss


How can leaders in education better understand and address opportunity gaps in course-taking? District administrators in Gresham-Barlow School District (GBSD), just outside Portland, Oregon, took a data-driven approach.
By: Teresa Ketelsen, Beth Tarasawa
Topics: Empowering educators, Equity, High school


ELLs on the cusp: Should we reclassify?
This article explores the complexities teachers face in determining when English Learner students near the proficiency threshold should be reclassified, and provides important recent research findings to help guide the decision-making process.
By: Angela Johnson, Claude Goldenberg
Topics: Equity, English Language Learners