We’re hosting Dr. Iheoma U. Iruka who will discuss why we all need to work to address root causes of disparities in opportunity and education to make real and lasting systematic change.
In her presentation, “Solidifying our Villages: Addressing Opportunity Gaps and the Education Debt Through a Racial Equity Lens,” Dr. Iruka will ask participants to consider their roles in ensuring that NC children and their families have equitable opportunities to meet their potential.
Dr. Iruka will focus on understanding and addressing inequities and biases in systems and programs with a goal towards equitable opportunities. She will share local, state and national examples of how data can be used through an equity lens and root cause analyses to minimize the impact of racism and poverty and their effects.
She will discuss how addressing disparities must go beyond gap-gazing at third grade test scores and blaming children and families, and often schools. She will show how a sole focus on disparities without consideration of the root causes will continue to ensure the permanency of this gap.
Iheoma U. Iruka, Ph.D., is the Chief Research Innovation Officer and Director of The Center for Early Education Research and Evaluation at HighScope Educational Research Foundation after tenure at FPG Child Development Institute at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and the Buffett Institute at the University of Nebraska.
To close our NC Campaign for Grade-Level Reading Summer Meeting, Dr. Iruka will be the keynote speaker. Everyone is welcome to attend. To join us for Dr. Iruka’s presentation on August 12th at 1:00 pm, please register here.