I woke up this morning with equity on my mind. It is getting tossed around in so many educational spaces without any real grasp of what it looks like. Equity is about power. /1

Equity is about power. Let me repeat, equity is about power. It is an intentional and significant shift of power, influence, and resources to folx who are regularly marginalized. /2

In a school setting that means who who have regularly maintained power actually release and let go of their power to other folx who are usually with significant power or influence. /3

Power in school settings always falls under the umbrella of whiteness. This means white, cis-hetero, male, able body, neurotypical individuals and their perspective, ideas, and decisions are centered and deemed the norm. /4

So here's an example. My school requires students to put their camera on during Zoom sessions. That is not an equitable practice. So in my sessions camera students can have their camera on or off. I'm shifting power is shifted to the students. /5

Another example. Curriculum and content provided by districts is extremely eurocentric and whitewashed making it inequitable. Teachers shift the power curriculum has by our pedagogy and content being taught from a very anti-racist, diverse, and inclusive lens. /6

Last example. SWD and "general ed" are both constantly treated unfairly and unjustly in schools. Making sure teachers are following all IEPs, offering full access to content, and not gatekeeping any students is how you shift power. /7

If you are not intentionally shifting power, resources, or influence to marginalized people, you are not doing equity work in education. If you are not actively working against the status quo in schools you are not doing equity work in education. Equity is about power. /FIN