By Wendy Melendez, Paola Marin and Michel Acevedo-Zmuda As New Jersey works to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential that we keep equity at the forefront. The pandemic laid bare and exacerbated the deep gaps in our society. Even in prosperous a state like New Jersey, too many families struggle with a lack of access to educational opportunities, career advancement and a path to the middle class. We are encouraged that both Gov. Phil Murphy and his partners in the Legislature have made equity a central theme in their policy agendas. As they prepare to get to work on a new state bud…