Ten minutes from Auburn University, middle school students are working on tablet computers purchased by their school to help enhance their education. However, 10 minutes in the opposite direction, there are middle school students who don’t even have textbooks.

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The Educational Achievement Gap Awareness Panel hopes to bring this problem to light and make students realize what a pressing issue it is, not only across America, but also in this community. The event takes place on Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 6 p.m. in the Auburn University Hotel and Conference Center Auditorium. Panel members include: Alabama State Superintendent Dr. Tommy Bice; Dr. Cynthia Reed, professor and director of the Truman Pierce Institute; Dr. Marilyn Strutchens from the Department of Curriculum; Lauren Hayes, Teaching Advocacy Director at Tennessee Charter Schools; and Alisha Walker, Teach for America core member.

“The panel hopes to expose Auburn students to the extreme gap in educational opportunities and show the need for reform,” senior elementary education major Emily Crane said. Crane has observed several schools as an education major and knows firsthand the effect the education achievement gap has on students.

“It breaks my heart to know that some students fail because they were never truly given the same opportunities as their counterparts living a few miles away,” she said. “I believe all children deserve equal opportunities for an excellent education.”

Education majors and others who work directly in local schools see the result of the education achievement gap every day, but most people are not exposed to it and are unaware of how it could affect them one day as well. Every person has either been in the school system at one time, will raise kids that will go through the system, or has come to contact with those who are part of the system. “No one can avoid the effects of public education,” Crane said.

Senior early childhood education major Natalie Brock believes if people are informed of the achievement gap, there’s a chance that something could be done to combat it.

The panel’s goal is to do just that.

The Student Government Association has partnered with the Division of Student Affairs and the College of Education to host the panel discussion to increase knowledge of the gap so something may be done to keep any more students from being negatively affected.

Auburn alums Lauren Hayes and Alisha Walker possess personal experience in school systems suffering the effects of the educational achievement gap and can relate to current Auburn students in a unique way. The distinguished politicians on the panel offer a wealth of knowledge of the school systems, down to the root of the problems it faces. “I look forward to the diverse panel that comprises recent Auburn graduates involved in educational reform up to well-known politicians of our area,” Crane said.

All students, faculty, staff and community leaders are invited to attend the panel discussion and reception following. A large turnout to this event could lead to a major change in the local school systems, and in time could lead to a change across the country.