Mount Pleasant High School is the most diverse high school in the state of Delaware, and the rest of the Brandywine School District is just as heterogeneous. In a district like this one it is important for teachers, administrators, board members, and even students to do all they can to create a healthy learning environment for everyone. Over the years, the BSD has done their best to bridge the learning gap, or as Dr. Shawn Jegede calls it: the opportunity gap.
The name “the opportunity gap” refers to the idea that there are statistically significant differences between the test scores, grade averages, graduation rates, and college enrollment rates between separate groups of students. Usually, when speaking about this phenomenon it will be in reference to the disparities that exist between black and white students or students of different economical status. In order to foster equity in our schools and work to close this gap, the BSD has created a new organization: The Advisory and Assessment Committee on Equity (a.k.a. AACE.)
During my conversation with Dr. Jegede, she spoke about how the opportunity gap begins to form as soon as a person is born. Did your parents graduate high school? Did they go to college? Do you attend a private school? If your answer to any of these questions was no, then you are less likely to graduate or go into higher education than many of your peers. It gets worse in the early years of schooling. Different kids are recommended for different programs, different career paths, different difficulty levels in classes. This is something that this committee wants to remedy. They want to make sure that all students have equal opportunities, equal access to education, and that all students receive the attention and care they deserve.
The AACE plans to achieve these goals by implementing more programs such as free lunches for all students and incorporating AVID classes into more schools. Of course, one inclusive district doesn’t make an inclusive society. For this reason, Dr. Jegede says that the main purpose of this committee is to “start conversations”. In other words, we can’t solve problems on a large scale if we can’t speak to each other. The BSD plans to have board members, teachers, administrators, and even students involved in this organization.
The reason why Dr. Jegede and the school board want to incorporate so many different views and opinions into solving the equity problems is because so many different people are affected by it. Dr. Jegede claims that the most important part of creating an equitable school is that you must be able to see each other as human beings. You must be empathetic and understanding. You must be willing to have uncomfortable conversations in order to create a school district that is comfortable for all students. The creation of the AACE accepts that, and is prepared to do what it takes to improve the BSD and create a better environment for everyone.
