PROMOTING RACIAL EQUITY TO CLOSE STUDENT OPPORTUNITY GAPS IN SCHOOL SYSTEMS ACROSS THE SOUTH

Despite decades-long efforts at education reform, American public schools continue to generate substandard outcomes for Black and Brown students when compared to their White counterparts. Exploration into the drivers that perpetuate these racial disparities, as well as into the pivotal levers for transformation, consistently point to the role of district leadership. Superintendents wield tremendous influence and power to eradicate inherently racially biased and discriminatory education policies and practices in their districts. Yet, even when a superintendent demonstrates a willingness and commitment to using their role authority to effect change, they still often encounter several impediments to this work. When asked what they perceived to be their greatest challenges, district leaders consistently illuminated a central problem: an inability to address the knowledge gaps within key stakeholder groups about the nature, magnitude, and drivers of inequities in their districts. This challenge limits their ability to secure the buy-in necessary to advance a racial equity agenda. A review of extant literature revealed equity scorecards as a would-be solution to this challenge. Considered both an instrument and a process, scorecards help to shine a light on racial disparities by systematically scrutinizing student data along key performance indicators. This paper discusses the results and implications of a mixed-methods, explanatory sequential study on a three-part professional learning intervention designed to raise awareness about the function and utility of the equity scorecard method. Findings from the study demonstrated that once their knowledge and understanding about the scorecard method increased, superintendents viewed it as a potentially potent tool to leverage in their districts. It equipped leaders with the language to talk openly about race and race equity, to call attention to systemic drivers of inequity, to substantiate the problems with data, to communicate those findings, identify actionable steps to change, and compel stakeholders to act