When it comes to the hard work of reconstructing our schools into places where every student has the opportunity to succeed, Mirko Chardin and Katie Novak are absolutely convinced that teachers should serve as our primary architects. And by teachers they mean legions of teachers working in close collaboration. After all, it's teachers who design students' learning experiences, who build student relationships . . . who ultimately have the power to change the trajectory of our students' lives.

Equity by Design is intended to serve as a blueprint for teachers to alter the all-too-predictable outcomes for our historically under-served students. A first of its kind resource, the book makes the critical link between social justice and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) so that we can equip students (and teachers, too) with the will, skill, and collective capacity to enact positive change.

Inside you'll find:

• Concrete strategies for designing and delivering a culturally responsive, sustainable, and equitable framework for all students
• Rich examples, case studies, and implementation spotlights of educators, students (including Parkland survivors), and programs that have embraced a social justice imperative
• Evidence-based application of best practices for UDL to create more inclusive and equitable classrooms
• A flexible format to facilitate use with individual teachers, teacher teams, and as the basis for whole-school implementation

Every student, Mirko and Katie insist, deserves the opportunity to be successful regardless of their zip code, the color of their skin, the language they speak, their sexual and/or gender identity, and whether or not they have a disability. Consider Equity by Design a critical first step forward in providing that all-important opportunity.

Our calling is to drop our egos, commit to removing barri-ers, and treat our learners with the unequivocal respect and dignity they deserve.