Evelyn Zhang

Educational Equity and Potential Interventions for Primary Schools

Started Apr. 18, 2022

Abstract or project description

Inequity in education as a result of improper funding has a negative effect on disadvantaged students’ futures. Education equity is when schools and local and state governments provide resources unique to each individual to ensure everyone receives what they need to thrive in a learning environment. Preliminary research shows that schools in low-income communities aren’t receiving enough funding, which is often because property taxes are a large factor in quality of education. Due to lack of funding, many disadvantaged students fall behind at a young age. It is then very difficult to make up for the learning loss. It’s crucial to research interventions that target inequity in education because there is evidence of widening socioeconomic gaps in achievement as children get older. I examine different possible interventions, weigh the advantages and disadvantages, and determine whether it is a suitable action plan for governments. In this paper, I discuss increasing teacher pay, providing additional tutoring services, classroom size reduction, and equity funding, with level of intervention in mind. I found that although equity funding is uncommon, it does the best job of addressing the root cause: funding. I recognize the potential counterarguments but underscore the importance of equity funding because it addresses the root problem of inequity in education. The data compiled can be used to propose policies that advocate equity funding. I then propose ideas for future research and future legislation — ways that my findings can be used or taken as inspiration to expand the diversity of educational equity literature or can influence the legislation of certain interventions.