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5 Ways State Leaders Can Advance Resource Equity in Their Districts State Leaders

The student experience has evolved drastically in just the past five years alone. But districtwide policies, structures, and practices haven’t kept pace with that evolution, leading to some groups of students not getting equitable access to the resources they need to thrive at school.

As a state leader, you’ve likely been involved in critical conversations about how to solve this challenge, which typically focus on how federal funding can account for inflation and changing needs. Managing how much money a district gets is only half the battle, though.

How well districts use their resources is the other half. And state leaders like you play a critical role in supporting district leaders in equitably allocating resources—instructional time and attention, empowering content, student interventions, and more—to ensure that every student gets the educational experience they deserve.

Here are five things you can do to advance resource equity in your state and unlock better student experiences.

5 Ways State Leaders Can Advance Resource Equity in Their Districts

See how state leaders can advance resource equity in their state’s schools and unlock better student experiences.

Diagnostic Tools and Supports

May 30, 2025 | General

Understand the current state of education equity and excellence for students in your school system— including strengths and gaps across all 10 dimensions of education resource equity— with these diagnostic tools and supports.

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School Leadership Quality & Diversity

Principals and instructional leaders set the tone for student experiences. These leaders should not only put systems in place to meet students’ individual needs, but also reflect the diversity of the student body to inspire all students to reach new heights.

Teaching Quality & Diversity

Teachers are educators, role models, and guides on the path to success. All students benefit when districts foster a racially and linguistically diverse workforce of high-quality teachers who provide engaging, culturally relevant, and standards-aligned instruction.

School Funding

Ensuring students with higher needs have access to a high-quality education starts with flexible and transparent funding systems. Districts should differentiate and distribute funding based on specific needs in order to enable all students to thrive.

Diverse Classrooms & Schools

In school and in life, diversity helps everyone grow. Students need racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse classrooms that reflect the world around them and help them engage with different perspectives.

Learning-Ready Facilities

Learning isn’t just about curriculum. It’s also about the facilities in which students engage with their lessons. Structurally sound, well-maintained, and appropriate physical environments are imperative to the learning experience, helping students feel safe at school.

High-Quality Early Learning

Success in high school, college, or career starts early. With high-quality preschool programs that meet individual student needs, districts can help students take their first steps on the path to long-term academic achievement.

Student Supports & Intervention

Every student is unique—so their support systems should be unique as well. To set students up for success in school and post-graduation, districts should invest in individualized, integrated supports that reach students holistically.

Positive & Inviting School Climate

A physically safe and emotionally supportive school environment is paramount to reaching academic goals. Meaningful family engagement, fair discipline policies, and effective social-emotional learning opportunities help students feel like they belong at school.