DEI Terms and Definitions
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DEI Terms and Definitions
Ableism
Refers to practices, beliefs, and policies that systematically discriminate against people with dis/abilities
(Paris, 2017)Access
All members of the educational community should have entrance into, involvement with, and full participation of resources, conversations, initiatives, and choices which are attentive to heritage and community practices
(Paris, 2012)Achievement Gap
“The achievement gap between whites, blacks, and Latinos holds white wealthy students' performance as the standard of excellence without interrogating whether or not their performance is worthy of comparison. Instead of asking if how they performed is excellent, the inter-racially comparative nature of the "achievement gap" suggests that blacks, Latinos, Native Americans, special education students, and those receiving free and reduced-priced lunch should do whatever white students are doing."
This term has now been replaced with the opportunity gap; the achievement gap places the responsibility of achievement on marginalized groups, rather than the systems in place causing the disparities.Critical Consciousness
The willingness and ability to see how power and privilege are at work to systematically advantage some while simultaneously disadvantaging others
(Radd & Kramer, 2013)Culturally Responsive Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (CRPBIS)
A framework that aims at remediating school cultures that reproduce behavioral outcome disparities and marginalization of nondominant students and families
(Bal, 2011)Cultural Repertoire
The entire collection of students' lived experiences, home traditions, and social identities
(Lamont & Fleming, 2005)Diversity
Is not a proxy for race, but rather is an authentic, genuine, and equitable representation of individuals representing different races, national origins, sexual orientations, religions, and individuals with dis/abilities
(Jackson, Coomer, Dagli, Skelton, Kyser, & Thorius, 2017)Educational Equity
When educational policies, practices, interactions, and resources, are representative of, constructed by, and responsive to all students such that each student has access to, can meaningfully participate, and make progress in high-quality learning experiences resulting in positive outcomes regardless of individual characteristics and cultural identities
(Fraser, 2008; Great Lakes Equity Center, 2012)Equality
Derived from the concept of fairness as uniform distribution, where everyone is entitled to the same level of access and can avail themselves if they so choose
(Schement, 2001)Equity-Centered Curriculum and Instruction
Curricula and instructional practices that remove barriers to learning for all students, especially students who have been historically marginalized based on race, gender, dis/ability, national origin, religion and sexuality; are inclusive in the representation of the histories, experiences, practices and perspectives of diverse people; and promote social analysis and critiques toward social improvement
(Moore et al, 2015)Equity-Oriented Leadership
Leadership that brings about transformative change towards equity, inspires permanent, positive changes in both individuals and systems to create the conditions for and mobilize efforts toward equity, including an awareness of and attention to the nested nature of our educational systems which pose as barriers towards equity
(Artiles & Kozleski, 2007? Waitoller & Kozleski, 2013)High Outcomes
Efficacy of solutions that benefit all towards self-determination and the ability to act as contributing citizens in a democratic society and global community.
Implicit Bias
The attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner. The biases, which encompass both favorable and unfavorable assessments, are activated involuntarily and without an individual's awareness or intentional control
(Blair, 2002 and Rudman, 2004, as cited in Staats & Patton, 2013)Inclusion
Creating a society in which all children and their families feel welcomed and valued
Inclusive Classrooms
Acknowledgement of the myriad ways in which students differ from one another, class, gender, race, ethnicity, family background, sexual orientation, language, abilities, size, religion, etc., and the ability to value this diversity and design and implement productive and sensitive responses
Institutional Racism
The unexamined and unchallenged system of racial biases and residual white advantage that persists in our institutions of learning is not seen as a problem worthy of attention
Oppression
A set of policies, practices, traditions, norms, definitions and explanations (discourses), which function to systematically exploit one social group to the benefit of another social group
(Sensoy & DiAngelo, 2012, p. 39)Meaningful Participation
Agency and voice are afforded to all members of a community, by intentionally centering members who have been historically on the margins including, but not limited to people living in underresourced communities, people with dis/abilities, as well as racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse individuals. Multiple perspectives are pursued and valued
(Fraser, 1998)Minority
The use of the word minority and the comparative mentality that's formed as a result is often introduced to Black and Brown people at the most malleable point of life: childhood. That mindset festers throughout childhood, prompting an inferiority complex that makes these children feel they cannot excel due to systemic oppression. Non-whites are already a majority of the world's population. In our lifetime, people of color will compose a majority in America
(Lambert, 2020)Opportunity Gap
The inequitable distribution of resources and opportunities between populations; mainly referencing that students from low socioeconomic backgrounds or historically underserved racial and ethnic populations are not privileged to the types of resources and opportunities their White, middle-high income peers are
Positionality
The multiple, unique experiences that situate each of us; namely that gender, [gender expression], race, class, [ability, religion, national origin, language], and other aspects of our identities are markers of relational positions rather than essential qualities
(Takacs, 2003; Maher & Tetreault, 1993; Alcoff, 1988)Positive Outcomes
Efficacy of solutions benefit all towards self-determination and the ability to act as contributing members in a democratic society and global community.
Privilege
Any advantage that is unearned, exclusive, and socially conferred
(Johnson, 2006)Racial Bias
[Race-based] attitudes or [negative] stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions
(Staats, Capatosto, Wright, & Contractor, 2015)Racism
A belief that inherent differences among various races determine cultural and individual achievements, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior
