First 'Education Equity Lab' Puts Focus On Students' Equitable Access To High-Quality Education In Mississippi

The U.S. Department of Education and the Mississippi Department of Education hosted the Education Equity Lab at Jackson State University on March 29. Its goal is to guarantee that all students in public schools have reasonable access to excellent educators.

The U.S. Department of Education states that the lab will postulate the government officials, educators, community leaders and other stakeholders to carry out the plan that is implanted in Mississippi's Education Equity plan that is approved last November.

The Mississippi Department of Education plan includes ensuring the children from high-poverty and minority groups that they will not be taught by non-highly qualified, inexperienced or emergency certified educators. Education Week reports some of the other strategies of Mississippi's plans.

These include stipulating differentiated interferences with schools where there is a major "equity gap" in regards to teacher distribution. Mississippi will also improve the resources needed to implement the state's academic standards, assessment and numerous pathways to high school graduation.

The state would also restructure the principal and teachers' preparation programs. Mississippi is also taking steps to augment the data-driven decision making and making sure that schools and districts have access to precise and timely information that is essential to make educated decisions.

"We are proud to partner with U.S. Department of Education to sponsor the first Equity plan in the nation," said Carey M. Wright, the Mississippi Superintendent of Education. "Equitable access to teachers of quality and experience has been a concern of mine since I arrived in Mississippi."

"It is our plan to ensure that all students have equal access to high-quality instruction. In fact, ensuring that every school has effective teachers and leaders is one of the State Board of Education's top five goals," concluded Wright.