Overview

In my role as a researcher and consultant, I have led several equity audits aimed at identifying and addressing drivers of educational inequality. My equity research is built upon a robust understanding of how contemporary educational policies contribute to the creation and perpetuation of educational inequalities. I developed the SDS triangle as a guiding framework, which consists of three interdependent components: segregation, discrimination, and signaling. This model aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how these factors collectively drive educational inequality. These projects have involved conducting comprehensive reviews of factors such as school segregation, student achievement, resource allocation, family engagement, school climate, and access to qualified teachers. My work has spanned both my time with the American Institutes for Research (AIR) and as an independent consultant. Each audit aimed to develop comprehensive reports and actionable plans based on our findings.

Approach

I have consistently proposed a data-driven approach that begins with identifying key components contributing to educational inequality. Each strategy is aligned with specific data points, supporting a transition from broad analysis to targeted, actionable plans. The SDS triangle serves as the foundation for this approach, examining how segregation, discrimination, and signaling contribute to educational inequality:

• Segregation: Examining how school zoning and district boundaries contribute to racial and socioeconomic segregation. Segregation serves as a root cause for both discrimination and inequality, impacting educational outcomes directly and indirectly through associated discrimination.
• Discrimination: Analyzing disparities in resource distribution, such as funding, facilities, and access to educational materials across different schools. Discriminatory policies result in historically marginalized students receiving inferior resources.
• Signaling: Exploring the effects of school evaluation and rating policies, which often undervalue the quality of instruction in schools predominantly serving marginalized students. These signaling practices can perpetuate segregation and discrimination by influencing public perceptions and parental choices.

The components reviewed typically include disparities in school segregation, differences in student achievement, variations in resource allocation, levels of family engagement, school climate conditions, and access to qualified teachers.

Outcomes

The outcomes of these equity audits are data-driven reports that translate the often vague terminology of equity into actionable items related to inputs and outcomes within the educational systems. The SDS triangle model thus highlights the interdependent and multidirectional relationships between segregation, discrimination, and signaling, offering a renewed perspective on how educational policies continue to nurture inequality in the 21st century. To read about the political challenges faced in one such project in Colorado Springs, refer to this Washington Post article..https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/06/08/school-board-equity-critical-race-theory/