Leveraging a University to Contribute to More Equitable K–12 Local Learning Opportunities: A Conversation Starter

• In Event: Schools, Neighborhoods, and the Geography of Educational Opportunity

Abstract

This paper shares our university Center’s efforts to act as a “boundary spanner” supporting our university’s non-education colleagues to contribute to more equitable educational opportunities for local K12 students and their teachers. We focus here on the ongoing reflection needed to tap university resources to support K12 students typically underserved, considering examples and challenges of our work through five equity-oriented “principles.” We seek to engage education researchers on other campuses who help (or could help) university partners contribute to local K12 schools, programs, and systems with equity in mind. Finally, we seek to convince other higher education institutions to leverage their resources more to help enrich K12 education opportunities locally where needs are greatest.

Authors

• Mica Pollock, University of California - San Diego

• Susan S. Yonezawa, University of California - San Diego

• Monica Sweet, University of California - San Diego

• Nan Renner, University of California - San Diego

• Minhtuyen Mai, University of California - San Diego

• Alberto Vasquez, University of California - San Diego