Bridging the Gap

“Bridging the Gap” Strategies for creating Equitable Learning Opportunities

By Don Hall

I read with interest this article on Bridging the Gap. I just returned from the National Teacher of the Year conference in Dallas, and equity was on the minds of all who attended. I like the idea of providing “learning opportunities.’ The district mentioned in the article had a number of innovative ideas. Providing grants for students to be able to use older equipment seems to be one fairly simple way of moving towards equity. Students managed all aspects of the program. The district also partnered with local community groups and provided equipment to the community centers and apartment complexes while supporting it with technology department resources. I know we send our old equipment to salvage giving all of the common reasons for it being too difficult to share these older resources with the community. However, I believe with strong partnerships, lessons learned from those who have tried these methods, and some hard work, there are ways to bridge the divide and provide these learning opportunities for all. Bringing the parents in for training, providing child care, and offering off-site locations are ideas that make sense and are doable. I believe more districts need to look at ways to take the steps toward bridging the gap. I plan to share this article with our district leaders and hope we will take positive steps to start some initiatives that will make a difference.