MIDDLE SCHOOL Matters
a must-read book for middle-level administrators
BUILDING EQUITY: POLICIES AND PRACTICES TO EMPOWER ALL LEARNERS by Dominique Smith, Nancy Frey, Ian Pumpian, & Douglas Fisher book reviewed by Zana Vincent
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hat do parents and students expect from their schools? They expect a fair shot. That is what the authors of Building Equity describe as they explore fair as being not just equal but equitable.
Colleagues from San Diego’s innovative Health Sciences High & Middle College, which houses students in grades 6–12, the authors imagined a school where “the student body truly represents the diversity of human experience...the culture, educational program, and support services are informed by and sensitive to the student body’s social and emotional needs...all doors are open to opportunities to engage each student in challenging learning experiences...instructional excellence is the norm...[and] the student body is motivated and supported to discover their passions...” (p. 3) With those ideas in mind, the authors developed a Building Equity Taxonomy (BET) with the five following levels:
PHYSICAL INTEGRATION SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL ENGAGEMENT JUST IN TIME SUPPORTS INSTRUCTIONAL EXCELLENCE ENGAGED AND INSPIRED LEARNERS Each chapter provides a deeper investigation into each of the five tenets with examples, look fors, and suggestions for implementation. The BET also comes with a set of aligned data-collecting tools. The tools focus on the equitable practices and outcomes that support the critical equity standards vital to equity in districts and schools. In addition to the BET, a version of the tools is available for both staff and students. The information presented in each chapter is well organized and provides samples from research as well as teacher-based examples. As I reflect on the value of the information presented, it made one consider the complexity of the multiple aspects of equity while providing a path for the journey. The journey opens the opportunity for in-depth discussions from multiple partners and a clearly defined opportunity for assessing progress.
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