• College Prep
  • Study Skills
  • Career & Continuing Ed
  • Online Learning
  • Student Life
  • Study Abroad
  • Sponsorships
  • Scholarships
  • Student Group Shoutout
  • Latest in Learning
  • Success This Semester
  • Educators Making an Impact
  • Education News

6 Books About Education Inequality

books about education inequality

We are a reader-supported education publication. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission to help us keep providing content.

Racial achievement gaps in the U.S. are narrowing. However, the journey to total equality is slow and progress is unsteady. In fact, the standardized test scores between white and black students still amount to roughly two years of education. This disparity represents major gaps in educational opportunity and calls on educators, administrators and the education system as a whole to make a change. If you want to learn more about education inequality and what you can do to create equal opportunities for all of your students, add the following books about education inequality to your list of must-reads. 

1. Teaching in the Flat World

Is high-stakes testing really the best way to assess students’ education and skills? This evaluation method is common within the U.S. However, it often leaves certain students behind. In Teaching in the Flat World, authors Linda Darling-Hammond and Robert Rothman appeal to the American education system to draw inspiration from other countries in which students receive more chances to succeed academically. 

This book delves deep into the systems for preparing, developing and supporting teachers in countries like Singapore and Finland. Then, it gives teachers actionable ways to emulate these systems so that students of all backgrounds and abilities have equal opportunities for success. 

2. Education Inequality: Closing the Gap

What might happen if, instead of researching the disadvantaged, the public focused its attention on what raises attainment among minorities, immigrants and low-income households? Author Feysia Demie envisions this alternate reality in her book Education Inequality: Closing the Gap. 

This inspiring read offers an in-depth look at interventions in one poor inner-city school and how they’re offering equal opportunities for students to receive a high-quality education. Feysia’s research and analysis point to outstanding teachers, parents, a governing body and a community that all work together to effectively achieve this goal. 

3. Other People’s Children: Cultural Conflict in the Classroom

Prejudice, stereotypes and assumptions breed ineffective education in the classroom. However, they’re quite common in today’s classrooms because teachers are poor cultural transmitters, according to author Lisa Delpit.

In her book, she explains how primarily white teachers educate other people’s children and perpetuate systematic racism and imbalance within the education system and beyond. Because these educators can’t communicate effectively, people of color and other minorities suffer academically. In light of recent events, every teacher could stand to read this radical analysis. 

4. Savage Inequalities: Children in America’s Schools

Across the U.S., 53 school districts give a statistically significant amount less funding to high-poverty schools than low-poverty schools. In another 263 districts, funding has little to no connection to poverty levels, despite apparent disparities. Savage Inequalities addresses this funding gap and takes a closer look at how the public education system is failing today’s kids. 

To write his analysis, author Jonathan Kozol spent two years touring the country , interviewing school staff and students. He argues that underfunded schools have higher dropout rates and that school districts should equalize funding in the name of achieving educational equity. 

5. Between the World and Me 

What is it like to inhabit a black body and live within it? How can our nation reckon with a history of slavery and segregation and free ourselves from this historical burden? In his book Between the World and Me, Ta-Nehisi Coates attempts to answer these questions and explain his own awakening to the truth about his place in the world. 

Because the book is written as a letter to Ta-Nehisi’s 15-year-old son, it often focuses on youth and education. Because he believes that true knowledge will dispel the myths on which racism is built, he is a major proponent of study and learning. The more people understand where inherent injustice comes from, the more apt they’ll be to abolish it. 

6. So Much Reform, So Little Change 

In his book So Much Reform, So Little Change, Charles Payne explains why 30 years of reform has had little effect on urban public schools. At its heart, the text argues that most educational policies are disconnected from reality, especially in poor communities. 

This difficult yet necessary read will likely upset teachers whom Charles has depicted as naive and part of the problem. However, instructors who are willing to be the change will take his words as a wake-up call. Instead of feeling like the victim or calling for further reform, they’ll take initiative and work to find better solutions starting with their own classroom. 

Keeping an Open Mind 

Reading about and experiencing education inequality can be a heart-wrenching experience. However, learning more about other people’s struggles will help to root out the inherent bias that exists at a subconscious level. 

As you take in the words of these authors, try to keep an open mind and constantly reevaluate yourself. Are you doing all that you can to create equal opportunities for your students? How might you educate fellow teachers and administrators about systematic inequality and disparities within your own school system? As with anything, change starts with you. You just have to take that first step, and reading one of these books is a good place to start.

Search Classrooms.com

Browse by category.

  • Educating 98
  • Experience 106
  • Higher Learning Highlights 11
  • Learning 238
  • Student Funding 32

Latest News

books about education inequality

Automating Administrative Tasks in Education Institutions

books about education inequality

How to Apply for Grants for College

books about education inequality

How to Get Local Business Sponsorship for School Events

books about education inequality

5 Major Issues in Education Today

books about education inequality

What Companies Do Sponsorships for Student Groups?

books about education inequality

Does Withdrawing From a Class Look Bad?

Keep up with the latest in learning, more to learn.

future of iot in education technology

What Is the Future of IoT in Education?

a young girl standing on the sidewalk with her backpack she needs someone who knows what advocating for students means

What Does Advocating for Students Mean as an Educator?

books about education inequality

The Role of Big Data in Education

books about education inequality

What You Need to Know About STEM MBA Programs

You are using an outdated browser. Upgrade your browser today or install Google Chrome Frame to better experience this site.

  • Professional Learning

Our Approach

  • Get to Know Us
  • Let’s Connect

Professional Learning (PD)

  • Professional Learning Services
  • Impact Teams-PLCs
  • Diversity-Equity-Inclusion
  • Learner-Centered Leadership
  • School Climate
  • Learner-Centered Assessment
  • Learner-Centered Instruction
  • Learner-Centered Curriculum

PD Resources

  • Continuing Education Credits
  • Unpacking for Clarity
  • Leadership Coaching

Let's plan your PD

" * " indicates required fields

  • Overview of our Approach
  • Our Evidence Base

Thoughts and Actions

  • Case Studies

Go Ahead, Ask!

Meet our team.

  • Company Beliefs
  • Mimi & Todd Press
  • Become a Consultant
  • Past Events

Sign Up for our Newsletter

Join us in utah on oct 10, social media, welcome to our network of inspired, passionate educators..

Unlock the potential of absolutely every learner by embracing their strengths, creativity, and curiosity. Together we'll make the world a better place.

Professional Learning… Personalized.

We are change agents. Partner with our team to co-design strengths-based, sustainable professional learning for measurable impact.

  • Empower Instructional Leadership
  • Foster a Climate of Belonging and Inclusion
  • Enrich Authentic Family-Community Partnerships
  • Implement Inclusive Policies and Practices
  • Advance Learner-Centered Curriculum and Instruction
  • Strengthen Learner-Centered Impact Teams

Thank you for creating a culture that is inclusive and warm , and remembers its folks fondly. I appreciate all of you so much–the work keeps developing in phenomenal ways.

Self- and Peer Assessment in Action!

Observe how these multi-language second graders from PS 16 in Staten Island speak to their learning.

Our approach… grounded in evidence, powered by love.

Let’s take collective action through strength-based continuous improvement.

  • Guided by moral purpose
  • Community driven
  • Culturally responsive and sustaining
  • Human-centered
  • Culture of collaborative inquiry
  • Quality implementation for collective efficacy

District 31’s partnership with The Core Collaborative supported and nurtured our journey as an effective professional learning community. TCC’s expertise and coaching fostered systems leading to authentic teacher teams.

One school’s path to student-centered formative assessment.

One school’s path to student-centered formative assessment.

Find out how Petrides Elementary School in NYC accelerated learning with the Impact Team Model.

Partner with our community of learners.

We are educators, parents, authors, practitioners, friends, artists, visionaries, leaders, and researchers. And yeah, we’re fun, too!

Leading Impact Teams: Building a Culture of Efficacy and Agency , by Bloomberg and Pitchford,   combines some of the best innovations from the last decade to ensure a focus on changing the learning lives of students.

Excellent teams build excellent schools

Excellent teams build excellent schools

Impact Teams partner with students to innovate and expand ownership and agency.

NYC Department of Education

TCC Now: News and Events from our Learning Network

Lyons township high school.

Increasing Student Agency and Ownership through Peer Feedback

Harvest Valley

This TK–5 elementary school team wanted to strengthen students’ growth...

Family Engagement Post-Pandemic: Engaging Community for Learning Success

Being authentic is where you begin but learning how to...

SANNYS 2024 Annual Conference

Catch Vivett Dukes' Keynote, Mon Oct 28 at 8:15 AM

ALL IN for Equity Conference

Nov 2, 2024 | Monterey, CA

Aurora Institute Symposium

Ryan Sikkes | Mon, Nov 4 at 1:30 PM

Focus on Innovation & Technology Forum

Newark, NY | Nov 07, 2024c

2024 EMBRACE Equity Symposium

See Bloomberg, Kunnath and Sikkes Nov 13-14 in Bakersfield!

Learning Forward’s Annual Conference

Katie Smith, Kara Vandas, Jeanette Westfall, Michael McDowell, Ryan Sikkes

CISC 2025 Leadership Symposium

February 19-21 | Anaheim, CA TCC is a Proud Platinum Sponsor...

Let's Connect

Complete the form below to let us know what brings you to our website and we’ll be in touch.

Prefer to talk on the phone? No problem! You can give us a call at: 619-432-2673

This form is on the "Let's Connect" Section on the Homepage

Let’s plan your Professional Learning!

IMAGES

  1. Children, Schools, And Inequality by Doris R Entwisle

    books about education inequality

  2. The Dynamics of Language and Inequality in Education

    books about education inequality

  3. Vernon Press

    books about education inequality

  4. Educational Inequality: Closing the Gap (Paperback)

    books about education inequality

  5. Inequality, Poverty, Education PDF Free

    books about education inequality

  6. Education and Inequality in India: A Classroom View

    books about education inequality

VIDEO

  1. The problem of education inequality

  2. Education gap: The root of inequality

  3. James Heckman: The economics of inequality and childhood education

  4. Schools & Social Inequality: Crash Course Sociology #41

  5. "Teach Us All" documentary explores education inequality

  6. Inequalities in education

COMMENTS

  1. The best books for understanding educational inequality

    In showing how educational inequality was forged, fought over, and forgotten over time, this book helps us better understand educational inequality in our own time, including the …

  2. Inequality in Education: Comparative and International …

    The book offers (1) a better and more holistic understanding of ways to measure education inequalities; and (2) strategies for facing the challenge of inequality in education in the processes of policy formation, planning and …

  3. Growing Gaps: Educational Inequality around the World

    And among all of inequality's causes and manifestations, access to education is key to understanding and combating it, both for improving a person's individual life chances …

  4. (PDF) Educational Inequality

    This chapter provides new evidence on educational inequality and reviews the literature on the causes and consequences of unequal education. We document large achievement gaps between...

  5. Inequality in Education

    The book offers (1) a better and more holistic understanding of ways to measure education inequalities; and (2) strategies for facing the challenge of inequality in education in...

  6. Education, Inequality and Social Class

    Education, Inequality and Social Class provides a comprehensive discussion of the empirical evidence for persistent inequality in educational attainment. It explores the most important theoretical perspectives …

  7. 19 Essential Books to Understand Race and Equity in …

    In honor of Juneteenth, I compiled a list of 19 essential books that can help educators not only better understand the elusive, pervasive, and persistence impact of race on schools, but also provide them with skills to …