Study of State and Local-Level Educational Leaders COVID-19 Equity Approaches in Michigan, 2021-22

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated equity issues in education spanning race, disability, language, and socio-economic status. However, few studies examine the ways that district or state educational leaders consider equity in their decision-making during a crisis. This study examines how K-12 state and local leaders conceptualized equity and actualized equitable policies and practices during the pandemic. We conducted a multi-level case study, interviewing state and local-level educational leaders (n=64) from five school districts in the state of Michigan. Our findings reveal that leaders formed equity visions focused on meeting students’ individual needs, which were enacted differently at the state and local levels. Interview questions focused on leaders’ priorities and efforts to support staff, students, and families during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, interview questions prompted leaders to share their specific approaches for promoting student learning and engagement amidst the pandemic, key collaborators in this work, relevant successes and challenges, and any initiatives designed to support specific student populations (e.g., English learners, students receiving special education services, etc.). Additional topics include reflections on any lessons learned about equity during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years, including how leaders' thoughts on equity may have shifted due to the pandemic.<b><br></b>