Equity and inclusion programs play a big role in helping students do better in school. They work by removing obstacles and creating a friendly learning space for everyone. Research shows that when schools focus on fairness and inclusion, students from different backgrounds tend to perform better academically.

1. Better Academic Performance:

• Schools that focus on equity often see higher achievement levels. A study by the National Education Association found that these schools had better scores on standardized tests—about $0.5$ to $1.5$ points higher compared to schools that didn’t have these programs.
• The Education Trust also reported that more students from underrepresented groups started taking Advanced Placement (AP) classes when they had better access to advanced courses. This led to a $10\%$ increase in enrollment.

2. More Student Involvement:

• Inclusion programs help students feel like they belong. Research from the University of California found that schools with these practices had $20\%$ higher scores for student engagement, meaning students showed up more often and dropped out less.
• The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) found that states helping struggling schools with equity measures saw up to a $30\%$ reduction in achievement gaps for students who were often overlooked.

3. Teacher Training and Support:

• Training teachers in equity and inclusion can make classroom teaching more effective. A study found that teachers who learned about culturally responsive teaching helped boost their students’ grades by about $25\%$ in different subjects.

4. Closing the Achievement Gap:

• According to the National Center for Education Statistics, schools that focus on equity can help reduce the achievement gap for low-income and minority students. This often leads to up to a $15\%$ increase in graduation rates at these schools.

In conclusion, equity and inclusion programs not only help students perform better academically but also create a fairer education system. This prepares all students for future success!