The NYU DC community hosted a virtual discussion on equity in education and education reform, with special attention to the topic considering the current COVID-19 pandemic. This event was organized with the goal of bringing attention to the inequalities in the United States K-12 education system that prevent higher education as an opportunity for all. These inequalities have become even more apparent, such as access to technology, with the onset of the virus and the differences in resources to create remote learning environments state-by-state. This event included discussions on possible solutions to eliminate these inequalities and ideas to better prepare school systems for future, similar extenuating circumstances. This conversation sought to raise awareness of those children and young adults who the U.S. education system has left behind, still leaves behind, and will continue to leave behind unless action is taken and unless we as a society create paths for them to succeed.
Panelists for the program included Dr. Martha Kanter, Executive Director of the College Promise Campaign; current Senior Fellow at NYU Steinhardt's Institute for Higher Education Policy, Dr. Tiffany Jones, Senior Director of Higher Education Policy, The Education Trust, Dr. David Kirkland, Executive Director, NYU Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools; Associate Professor of English and Urban Education, NYU Steinhardt, and Dr. Hua-Yu Sebastian Cherng, Associate Professor, International Education, NYU Steinhardt. Serving as moderator and creator of this event was former DC Dialogues Executive Board Student Member, Brianna Hall.
