"Excellence gaps" are the disparities in advanced academic performance that exist between student groups. These gaps have important implications for both academic equity and American economic competitiveness, as the most lucrative jobs often go to those who perform at the highest levels. Although considerable work has evaluated how and…

When the "New York Times" released the 1619 Project in August 2019 it was met with enthusiasm and critical review. The outcome of the public debate, as of now, is mixed. Research is also mixed. Education findings suggests the project has the power to heal. Case study evidence indicates culturally centered approaches positively impact…

Institutional pairs of community college-sending institutions and university-receiving institutions are associated with significant variation in college completion outcomes, with such variation being especially pronounced for underserved transfer students of color. Higher performing institutional pairs tend to enroll a predominantly White student…

Despite ongoing reform efforts, academic achievement in the U.S. educational system is declining both on internal measures as well as on international comparative assessments. While students from affluent backgrounds continue to do well academically, there is a growing achievement gap as underprivileged urban students fall further behind. This…

The global pandemic caused by coronavirus has highlighted the systemic nature of inequalities caused by racism in Britain: people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups were more likely to be in jobs that had a high risk of exposure to infection, were more likely to be diagnosed with COVID-19, and were more likely to die from the…

Background: STEM achievement gaps affect marginalized students nation-wide. Environmental education (EE) does not currently nor historically represent a wide range of demographic backgrounds, and increasing concerns demonstrate the effects this can have on pedagogy of the field and the success of its students. Purpose: This research focuses on…

This study explores elementary school teachers' perceptions of emotional intelligence (EI) influence on the academic development of African American elementary students within a charter school in North Carolina. Persistent academic disparities faced by Black students, exacerbated by systemic educational inequalities and socio-cultural challenges,…

U.S. students have lost significant learning in mathematics and other subjects since the start of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in early 2020. The 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress mathematics scores for students in grades 4 and 8 reflected record declines, with the largest decreases for students experiencing…

In a short essay, I will examine the issues that plague education (e.g., achievement gaps, lack of learning materials, and access to learning) and how the COVID-19 pandemic brought them to the public's attention. I will share my experience teaching during the pandemic and note the importance of seizing the opportunity to correct the inequities…

Two periods of compulsory school closure in England as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the adoption of virtual teaching and learning environments. Although such platforms had already been launched in English schools prior to March 2020, when schools closed, their usage by classroom teachers had not been established. Pupil premium…

The phenomenon of digital differentiation, or stark variations in ability to access Internet hardware and/or infrastructure, has been a feature of provision since its early days. This article explores the impact of digital differentiation on two groups of young people, in England and Germany. It is based on fieldwork that took place during the…

Higher education institutions across the country have examined equity in education outcomes through disaggregating student demographic data. However, it is not as common for academic institutions to also examine student learning outcomes for inequities in student learning. The current study explores what the greatest contributors are for the lack…

To counter learning loss and other effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, students deserve access to all available supports, including supplemental options. Unfortunately, access to supplemental options is just as disproportionate as the effects of the pandemic. Too many barriers stand between students and the supports that could help them recover and…

Unequal access to advanced learning opportunities is among the most complex and controversial issues in American K-12 schools. Interventions that address policy, programming, and instruction can provide opportunities for students with advanced learning needs in school systems that prioritize minimum grade-level standards. Excellence gaps are…

We add to a growing literature suggesting that demographic grade gaps should be attributed to biases embedded in the courses themselves. Changes in the structure of two different introductory physics classes were made while leaving the topics covered and the level of coverage unchanged. First, a class where conceptual issues were studied before…