Wicked Problem Process: Creating Equity in Title 1 Schools by Addressing Achievement Gaps
Wicked problems are inherently complex, having multiple interdependencies and uncertainties that therefore result in no true solution. One of the most pressing wicked problem is creating equity in Title 1 schools by addressing achievement gaps. Title 1 schools usually serve students from low-income households and often face significant disparities in resources, support, and educational outcomes compared to their more affluent counterparts. My team’s journey through engaging with this wicked problem has been both enlightening and humbling, offering profound insights into the complexities of educational inequity.
Initially, we began with discovering the root causes of achievement gaps while incorporating various viewpoints. We found what makes this topic just so wicked and intense. Several factors contribute to the achievement gap, including but not limited to:
· Institutional and Systemic Factors
o Discrimination and Bias
o Early Access to Education
o School Quality
o Funding Disparities
· Socioeconomic Status
o Access to Resources
o Parental Involvement
o Community and Environmental Factors
o Health and Nutrition
o Transportation
· Cultural Relevance of Curriculum
· Language Barriers
This was just the start, however. We then examined the long-term effects of achievement gaps which can be profound and multifaceted, impacting individuals, communities, and societies in various ways. Here are some of the key long-term effects:
· Economic Consequences
o Reduced Earning Potential
o Economic Growth
o Innovation capacity
· Social and Health Implications
o Social Mobility
o Social Cohesion
o Political Participation
o Health Outcomes
· Educational Attainment and Lifelong Learning
o Higher Education and Skill Development
o Generational Effects
Once we grasped how far this issue extend, we asked ourselves some questions to help us form best case scenario solutions. Ideas that would aid us in reducing this gap in our own classrooms or school settings. Those questions along with what it might look like are below:
What if we had partnerships with local businesses, non-profits or high education institutes to provide resources/opportunities for students?
o Guest Speakers and Workshops
o Internships and Job Shadowing
o Networking Opportunities and Community Showcase
o Collaborative Projects and Tutoring
o Resource/Space Sharing
o Mentorship/University Mentor Programs
o Extracurricular Activities and Clubs
o Special Interest Clubs
What if we Integrated Educational Technology?
o Student Devices
o 1:1 Device Programs
o Device Quality and Equity
o Educational Apps
o Virtual Experiences
o Parental Involvement
o Workshops for Parents
What if we had additional tutoring or remediation programs from outside sources for teachers?
o Partner with Educational Institutions and Non-profits
o Attend Seminars/Webinars/workshops
o Professional Development from Organizations that Offer Specialized Training
o Self-Paced Learning for Teachers
o Subject Specific Training
o Team Teaching
In all, I will leave you with the same quote as the group we presented to. “Change is built on everyday choices. Choices are never neutral… Every choice school leaders make will either push us to a return to past inequity or pull us toward a renewed commitment to future equity. No choice is too small, they all add up. True equity is the ultimate impactful innovation. To get there, challenge every choice you make against the goal of equity” (Mary Lang, Los Angeles County Office of Education, California, United States). This also ties into my favorite quote of all time, “Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”-Robert Francis Kennedy, June 6, 1966. These small choices we make as educators begin those little ripples which eventually continue to spread outward, ultimately working toward reducing that achievement gap. It starts with you, what will you do?
