Legislative Advocacy
The Equity in Education Coalition believes that no one can advocate better for our kids than our communities and our allies. Therefore, we work with local, regional and state legislatures to ensure that laws, policies, and programs work for kids often trapped in the opportunity and achievement gap. We also hold our leaders accountable until they secure the resources required to make all children safe, healthy, and vibrant.
The education system in Washington State needs to be responsive to a child that is homeless, hungry, or living in the trauma of poverty. The education system in Washington State has to start funding programs at the local and district level that not only treat children equally but also treat children equitably. Some children need more programs, more resources, and more support than other children — and our schools and laws must offer those programs if we are to create a system that believes that each and every child can succeed in school and can enter a living wage career.
We do whatever is needed – push, persuade, demand – to make sure our leaders pass laws that do right by our kids. We do whatever is needed to make sure that the implementation of those laws does not perpetuate more vicious cycles of bias, poverty or racism.
Mobilization and Outreach
Our communities have a rich history of using peaceful, public demonstrations to fight for civil liberties and human rights. Following this tradition, The Equity in Education Coalition mobilizes students, parents, teachers, and allies to take action and bring justice to kids of color. We organize protests and rallies to engage our communities and demonstrate to decision-makers the need for equity. In this, we strengthen the political power of the most marginalized, and effectively change legislative priorities.
Check out our Counter-Rally against US Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos!
Policy and Accountability
The Equity in Education Coalition is tired of politicians paying lip service to diversity and education officials serving up hollow promises to close the opportunity gap. We are sick of attempts to help kids of color that instead hurt them more.
The EEC works as a Washington education “watchdog,” keeping an ear in our communities and eye on our elected officials. As both emerging practices and negative trends appear in schools, the EEC bubbles up this crucial information, laying the groundwork for effective problem-solving, and shining light on actions that affect our kids. We need education policy to stay rooted in schools and communities. Without our schools exemplifying working racial and social justice practices, Washington’s education will struggle to achieve equity; and without our communities holding Olympia accountable, education policy won’t help our kids.
In other words, we act as the bridge between real people experiencing the opportunity gap and the decision makers who want to close it. We seek to create a two way conversation between parents and teachers who feel that no one is listening, and decision makers looking for guidance on issues of equity. Instead of gate-keeping, we work to gate-break.