VVK PR + Creative’s Post

For over a decade, young people from disadvantaged backgrounds have been 40% less likely to go on to higher education than their better off peers, despite concerted attempts to close the ‘access gap.’ Now, Office for Students is pursuing a new approach to access and participation where providers must identify their own context and mission and mitigate risks to equality of opportunity through an Access and Participation Plan (APP). This is a regulatory requirement, and real opportunity for the sector. Together with Inclusion Revolution we worked with University of Bath to run a series of Theory of Change workshops to trial a co-creation approach that could be used to improve the quality of outcomes for young people from disadvantaged / underrepresented backgrounds. Our key learnings are essential reading for HE providers and policymakers. Download the report here: https://lnkd.in/gr_AMPvZ

#MUSTREAD ⭐️ Derrell Bradford's review of Kozol's latest book, An End to Inequality, makes clear-eyed points about our misrepresentation of equality in urban education. In Portland, we are decades behind other cities. While other urban school districts have grappled with "how" racial equity was addressed in public schools for many years, Portland consistently prioritized a hyper-progressive political agenda. Leaders passively rubber-stamped a school system where our academic and social interventions were "done to" Brown children and families by mostly white educators - in the name of equity. Two excerpts from Derrell's piece highlight Portland's opportunity to carve out an innovative path forward that centers self-determination for students and families of color in Portland: ⭐️ If we accept the premise that America is at its root a slavocracy, whose institutions, public schools chief among them, are forever distorted by this history, how will school integration undo this?  ⭐️ One cannot achieve the transformation [Kozol's] reparations proposal seeks by giving money and power to the system that has harmed both the children about whom he writes so passionately and the national fabric that so rightfully concerns him. We must, instead, give money and power to the children and families who have been hurt by this system. I'm on a journey this year to learn how we can stop repeating the same mistakes in Oregon education. Our 2025 legislative session will include a robust discussion about funding and accountability. Legislators and leaders can take this moment to act differently. Instead of turning to the shelf to grab the 2023 legislative agenda (the same one we've leaned on for decades), we can come together and discuss what we want our children's future to look like in twenty years. Do we envision Oregon youth leading our state into a prosperous future? How do we make this a reality? https://lnkd.in/grEYfaZm

👀 City of Cambridge’s free, universal #prek will be an important effort to follow. This Boston Globe Media article does a terrific job of highlighting the important access, affordability, quality, and equity benefits to #children and #families. 💡I would add at least two additional positive impacts: 1.) families will not only be able to save money, but they will be able to participate and contribute more to the local #economy and achieve greater personal #economicsecurity by increasing their earnings; and, 2.) by addressing #preschool with this public-private approach, the City is opening the door to creative solutions to support #infants and #toddler, an absolutely critical period of development for children and a major barrier for families and #caregivers who are trying to work or achieve full employment. 👏 Globe journalists Spencer Buell & Christopher Huffaker #chikdcare + #workforce = #jobs + #economicgrowth for ALL! Follow and learn more with Massachusetts Business Coalition for Early Childhood Education! #MassBiz4EarlyEd https://lnkd.in/eB_4fpHZ

Check out this insightful article on the ongoing challenges and solutions to improving educational equity. Schools have long been grappling with equity issues, and the disruptions caused by the pandemic have only made them more pronounced. Discover how we can work towards a more equitable education system. #education #equity #solutions https://okt.to/aAHkbJ

As a first-generation non-traditional parenting student, I was familiar with barriers to beginning and completing my education. When I went to grad school to study public policy, education policy was the area I wanted to focus on because we know that education is a powerful tool for achieving higher earning potential, building stronger social connections and finding personal fulfillment. I want to live in a community where access and support towards achieving your educational goals are equitable. The State of San Diego Latinos Report, developed in partnership with San Diego Foundation and the San Diego Regional Policy & Innovation Center, reveals that the bachelor’s degree attainment rate for Latinos is less than half that of Asian and White San Diegans and is the lowest in the county. Let's change this! Discover more insights in the full report at https://lnkd.in/gCckeguy.  #LatinoCommunity #San Diego #AccessToEducation 

Exploring Educational Attainment Disparities: A Statistical Insight In educational attainment, strides toward equity have been made, yet substantial gaps persist. Recent data from 2019 illuminates the reality: while 47% of White adults had achieved at least an associate degree, the figures for Black and Hispanic adults stood at 36% and 26% respectively. This statistical snapshot shows the ongoing need for targeted efforts to address disparities in educational access and attainment. It prompts us to dig deeper into the systemic factors contributing to these gaps, from resource allocation to societal barriers. Beyond the numbers, these statistics reflect tangible opportunities for advocacy and intervention. They signal the imperative for inclusive policies and initiatives that promotes equitable pathways to education for all individuals, regardless of racial or ethnic background. As we navigate the complexities of education reform, these insights serve as guiding beacons, informing our strategies for fostering a more inclusive and equitable educational background. By acknowledging and confronting disparities head-on, we can collectively strive towards a future where educational opportunities are truly accessible to all. Let's continue to engage in data-informed dialogue and action to drive meaningful change. #CnjAssociates #EducationEquity #InclusiveEducation

As a child of Ecuadorian immigrants, this issue impacts me profoundly. A new report from the Institute for Higher Education Policy shows that while college affordability improves for some immigrant families over generations, many immigrants of color still struggle with significant financial gaps. Latino, Black, and Asian students face high levels of unmet need, even in later generations, with Black students seeing a worsening trend over time. While postsecondary success must include frameworks for affordability—it's also about access to opportunity and economic mobility. As I recently wrote for Leadership Exchange Magazine, "Leaders well-versed in immigration issues can better evaluate demographic changes, develop supportive policies for students with varied immigration statuses, ensure compliance with regulations, maintain a global perspective, and create funding structures that serve students with diverse immigration statuses." With immigrant-origin students now comprising a third of all college enrollments, it’s essential to address these disparities for their success and to strengthen the future of leadership in this country. https://lnkd.in/eb2qD2ZM

'Eternal Sunshine: Influencing Positive Cultural Change in SEND Education'. 'SEND' resembles, too often, a battleground: families ‘fight’ for EHCPs and school places; schools desperately argue the case for funding which matches educational provision; Local Authorities battle internally or externally for over much-needed slices of the budget; young people attempt to navigate a world which is set up for an entirely different set of peers. This longer post explores the free, yet high impact, strategy of explicitly tackling negative culture as a tool for developing an inclusive education system. https://lnkd.in/dvYEqGR2

This is a great read! It’s getting at sustainability of programs. Grant money is great, when that money runs out what happens to initiatives that serve our students and create a sense of belonging for them? They go away! …that is, unless the institution puts some backing into it! Institutions can’t just expect grant money to pay for programs that literally makes the institution desirable and look good…it drives academic success, retention rates, graduation rates, and perhaps even success beyond graduation. Institutions can’t simply rely on HSI grants, they need to show their commitment by finding ways to integrate programs. Sometimes this might mean putting some $ of their own to keep these programs running at its full potential.