Research Symposium

BIO

Ashley A. Wong is a passionate advocate for educational equity, with a particular focus on the impact of educational privatization. Her research delves into how market-driven reforms often exacerbate existing inequalities, especially in how school choice policies favor wealthier families while marginalizing lower-income groups. Through a comprehensive literature review, Ashley examined the barriers—such as financial constraints, cultural expectations, and systemic inefficiencies—that continue to limit educational access for disadvantaged populations. She emphasizes the need for government-led education policies tailored to local contexts that can counteract the harmful effects of privatization and ensure universal access to quality education for all students. Ashley’s commitment to educational justice is grounded in her belief that systemic disparities in education directly contribute to cycles of poverty and disenfranchisement. Beyond her research, Ashley is actively involved in student leadership and policy advocacy, working to improve educational access and resources for underrepresented communities. As a Political Science major at Florida State University, she combines her academic work with hands-on experience, preparing for a future in law and policy that centers on advocating for marginalized communities and dismantling the systemic barriers that perpetuate inequality.

Educational Privatization and School Choice: a focus on equity

Abstract

In this study, I examined the impact of educational privatization on access to education, revealing that market-driven reforms often exacerbate existing inequalities. Despite government policy efforts to expand educational opportunities, significant barriers persist, including financial constraints, cultural expectations, and systemic inefficiencies. Through a comprehensive literature review using the Academic Search Complete database in EBSCO, I analyzed global research on how socioeconomic disparities, gender norms, and school choice policies shape educational opportunities, often favoring wealthier families while marginalizing lower-income groups. Drawing from these findings, I underscore the need for equitable, government-led education policies tailored to local contexts to counteract the adverse effects of privatization and ensure universal access to quality education.

Keywords: Educational Privatization and equity