Developing Equitable Education Systems

This insightful book, Developing Equitable Education Systems, critiques current education policies and offers strategies for promoting fairness and equity in schools.

In Developing Equitable Education Systems, the authors explore the impact of current educational policies aimed at increasing diversity through charter schools, free schools, and academies. They argue that these initiatives may inadvertently fragment education systems, leading to a scenario where the success of one school can negatively affect the performance of others. The book presents a critical analysis of how such fragmentation can undermine the overall goal of equitable education for all students.

Despite notable improvements in school systems over recent years, many children continue to miss out on quality education. The authors emphasize that the issue extends beyond disadvantaged backgrounds in urban schools, as even the most successful institutions often have groups of students who experience inequity in their schooling. Drawing on their extensive involvement with schools in working-class communities, they provide insights into the root causes of marginalization and offer strategies for addressing these challenges.

The authors advocate for a teacher-led inquiry approach as a means of fostering equity within individual schools. However, they caution that applying this strategy for broader system change is complicated by policies that prioritize competition and choice. Developing Equitable Education Systems highlights the importance of collaboration and offers practical recommendations for practitioners to create a fairer educational landscape, while also warning against the pitfalls of fragmented systems that arise from misguided beliefs about competition benefiting all children.