Section 2

Exposing the disparity

Data Review and Equity Audit

We can, whenever and wherever we choose, successfully teach all children whose schooling is of interest to us; we already know more than we need to do that; and whether or not we do it must finally depend on how we feel about the fact that we haven’t so far.

Ron Edmonds, 1979

So how are we doing?

Refer to a TAPR report for your school or district. – Look for possible achievement gaps. – Be sure to review Index 3 & System Safeguards• What strengths do you find?• What areas of need are revealed?

Individually record

findings.

What does the data reveal?

Collect the sticky notes and group like items together.

What student groups are

struggling the most?

What student

groups are doing well?

What questions emerge?

What categories emerge?

What questions do the data pose?

Willingness to ask questions – and to look for the real answers- gets to the heart of how data can stimulate the school change process.

Using Data to Close the Achievement Gap: How to Measure Equity in Our Schools

Ruth S. Johnson, 2002

Posing good questions

As you look at the results of the systems in place at the school/district….

• What else do you need to know?• What hunches do you have?• Want conditions might influence these

results?

Many factors contribute to a student’s academic performance, including individual characteristics and family and neighborhood experiences.

But research suggests that, among school-related factors, teachers matter most.

Rand Corporation

Public schools… make available different types of educational experiences and curriculum knowledge to students in different social classes…

J. Anyon, 1980

Although this may not be intentional

Look again

Study the performance of the various students groups represented in your school/district– Are there gaps in achievement?– Using Index 3 criteria:• How do economically disadvantaged students compare

to the all student group? • What other students groups are performing

significantly below the all student group?

Refer back to your questions

Considering the differences of outcomes for various student groups– What else might you need to investigate? – Are there conditions within the school

environment that might contribute to the gap? – Add to your question bank as needed.

For a structured way to investigate school conditions that might contribute to differences in opportunity

Equity Audits: A Practical Leadership Tool for Developing Equitable and Excellent Schools

Linda Skrla, James Joseph Scheurich, Juanita Garcia and Glenn Nolly

Consider an Equity Audit

Equity Audit Jigsaw

All- Scan introduction and history (pages 133-142)– 1- Review Teacher Quality (pages 142-145)– 2- Review Programmatic Quality (pages 146-148)– 3- Review Achievement Quality (pages 148-150)

For each group record:– 3 things you notice– 1 question you still have

Teacher Quality

Making it real• Look at the TAPR and your questions again.• Could teacher quality be an influence? • What do you need to investigate to find

out?

Programmatic Quality

Making it real• Look at the TAPR and your questions again.• Could program quality or access be an

influence? • What do you need to investigate to find

out?

Achievement Quality

Making it real• We have already looked at the TAPR• Are there other data sets that need to be

reviewed? • What do you need to investigate to find

out?

Ideal vs. Current Reality Comparison

The results of the Equity Audit

Your vision of an ideal

school/district

What do you find?

VS.