Basic Principles for Equity Literacy

An important aspect of equity literacy is its insistence on maximizing the integrity of transformative
equity practice. We must avoid being lulled by popular “diversity” approaches and frameworks that
pose no threat to inequity—that sometimes are popular because they are no real threat to inequity.
The basic principles of equity literacy help us ensure we keep a commitment to equity at the center of
our equity work and the broader equity conversation.

1. The Direct Confrontation Principle: The path to equity requires direct confrontations with
   inequity—with interpersonal, institutional, cultural and structural racism and other forms of
   oppression. “Equity” approaches that fail to directly identify and confront inequity play a significant
   role in sustaining inequity.
2. The Equity Ideology Principle: Equity is more than a list of practical strategies. It is a lens and
   an ideological commitment. There are no practical strategies that will help us develop equitable
   institutions if we are unwilling to deepen our understandings of equity and inequity and reject
   ideologies that are not compatible with equity.
3. The Prioritization Principle: In order to achieve equity we must prioritize the interests of the
   students and families whose interests historically have not been prioritized. Every policy, practice,
   and program decision should be considered through the question, “What impact is this going to
   have on the most marginalized students and families? How are we prioritizing their interests?”
4. The Redistribution Principle: Equity requires the redistribution of material, cultural, and social
   access and opportunity. We do this by changing inequitable policies, eliminating oppressive
   aspects of institutional culture, and examining how practices and programs might advantage some
   students over others. If we cannot explain how our equity initiatives redistribute access and
   opportunity, we should reconsider them.
5. The “Fix Injustice, Not Kids” Principle: Educational outcome disparities are not the result of
   deficiencies in marginalized communities’ cultures, mindsets, or grittiness, but rather of inequities.
   Equity initiatives focus, not on “fixing” students and families who are marginalized, but on
   transforming the conditions that marginalize students and families.
6. The One Size Fits Few Principle: No individual identity group shares a single mindset, value
   system, learning style, or communication style. Identity-specific equity frameworks (like grouplevel “learning styles”) almost always are based on simplicity and stereotypes, not equity.
7. The Evidence-Informed Equity Principle: Equity approaches should be based on evidence for
   what works rather than trendiness. “Evidence” can mean quantitative research, but it can also
   mean the stories and experiences of people who are marginalized in your institution.Read more here.