The Role of Research and Researchers in Supporting States to Take Responsibility and Action for Addressing Educational Equity

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

To resolve a long-standing equity lawsuit in North Carolina, stakeholders formed a partnership with researchers to investigate how the education system was serving economically disadvantaged students and agreed to take action on research-informed recommendations. The researchers led 12 studies to investigate the needs in the state’s education system. Studies examined access to qualified educators; access to effective school leaders; adequacy/equity of funding; the accountability system; and factors that support low wealth districts. Research was used to develop a State Action Plan with over 90 specific actions to improve educational equity. The researchers will share findings from the studies and discuss the approach of using research to address an equity lawsuit and bring focused attention to increasing educational equity.

Sub Unit

• Division L - Educational Policies and Politics / Division L - Section 2: Legal and Judicial Issues for Equity and Access

Chair

• Linda Darling-Hammond, Learning Policy Institute

Papers

• Attracting, Preparing, Supporting, and Retaining Education Leaders in North Carolina - Paul H. Koehler, WestEd; Susan Mundry, WestEd

• Developing and Supporting North Carolina Teachers - Angela Minnici, WestEd

• Educator Supply, Demand, and Quality in North Carolina: Current Status and Recommendations - Stephanie Levin, Learning Policy Institute

• A Study of Cost Adequacy, Distribution, and Alignment of Funding for the State's K–12 Public Education System - Jason Willis, WestEd

• Providing an Equal Opportunity for Education in High-Poverty Schools: Assessing Needs and Opportunities - Jeannie Oakes, University of California - Los Angeles; Peter Willis Cookson, Learning Policy Institute

• An Exploration of School Success Factors to Inform the Leandro Action Plan - LaTricia Townsend

Discussant

• Saroja Warner, WestEd