Our Approach

Acknowledging the impact of learning environments on students’ academic achievement, the BELE Network is working to increase access to high-quality opportunities that foster students’ learning and development.

Approach To The Work

To create equitable learning environments that meet the needs of all students, our members are:
  • Articulating a definition of success that is liberatory and inclusive of the values and aspirations of students of color and students living in poverty
  • Building the capacity of leaders to lead with an equity focus, to identify and dismantle policies and practices that are leading to structural inequities, and to create policies and design practices that lead to more equitable and liberatory student experiences and outcomes
  • Applying the Science of Learning and Development to design new approaches to teaching and learning to create more equitable experiences and outcomes for students of color and students living in poverty.
  • Using Quality Improvement tools and methods to run small tests of change to learn and document what works, how it works, and how it leads to greater equity.
  • Scaling ideas that work and use the evidence of greater equity and positive student outcomes and engagement to inform policy recommendations and advocacy efforts regionally and nationally.

 

Learn More about the concepts that are guiding our work.

We’re working with educators, policymakers, grantmakers, schools and school support organizations to create equitable learning environments. We believe the following conditions must be in place to meet the needs of all students.

Students

We’re developing equitable learning environments to make sure students have agency to define of success, a sense of belonging supported by respect and understanding for their cultural identities, and the competencies they need to make positive change in the world.

Policy

Our member organizations are designing policies to be implemented in schools and school districts, and at the state and federal levels, to create equitable learning environments that support all students’ needs.

Adults & Educators

Our members are working to make sure adults in schools are cognizant of the importance of equitable learning practices and possess the professional knowledge and skill to support all the ways students learn.

Organizational Structures & Conditions

In schools and school districts, we’re creating conditions that will advance equitable learning practices and maximize collaboration among educators, students and families to support students’ learning.