Chapter 12 begins by defining the differences between two similar concepts: equity and equality. It then reviews the history of efforts to address educational equity since the 1954 Supreme Court decision Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas. Current social inequalities are explained, including such political-economic dimensions as income, employment, housing, and political power differences among different ethnic and gender groups.

        The chapter then turns from social inequalities to educational inequalities among various social groups. The social construction of different ethnic, gender, and economic groups' status in schools is considered. While particular attention is paid to African-Americans and Latinos, Asian Americans and students with disabilities are also considered. The chapter concludes with two very different Primary Source Readings that explore different dimensions of ethnicity in the United States.