Words Matter
A plain-language glossary for the words that shape public life.
Political Systems & Ideologies
Government structures and political philosophies that shape how power is distributed, who makes decisions, and how authority is justified. These terms are often used loosely. This section pins down their actual meanings and explains how they function in practice.
Achievement Gap
Differences in academic outcomes between groups of students, reflecting unequal access to learning opportunities, instruction, and resources.
Attendance Policy
Define how schools track student attendance, classify absences, notify families, and intervene when students miss school. They operate within state laws and influence funding, instruction, and accountability.
Acculturation
Acculturation is the process of adopting elements of another culture while retaining aspects of one’s original identity. It involves selective adaptation, shaped by daily interactions and institutional expectations, and differs from assimilation because it does not require full cultural replacement.
Assimilation
Assimilation is the process through which newcomers adopt the cultural norms and behaviors of a dominant society, often reducing aspects of their original identity. It is a one-directional process, unlike integration, which allows reciprocal adaptation. Assimilation can be voluntary or shaped by social and institutional pressures.
Asylum Seeker
An asylum seeker is someone who has fled their home country and is requesting protection but has not yet been legally recognized as a refugee. Their case is reviewed through a legal process to determine whether they meet refugee criteria. Seeking asylum is a legal right, and asylum seekers cannot be returned to danger while their claims are pending.