Data As An Equity Engine

Beware the Wallpaper Effect!

After reading chapter 2, you will understand data is a tool used to uncover inequitable practices.
After reading chapter 2, you will seek to understand how students can get “lost in data” that tells erroneous stories about student success.
After reading chapter 2, you will understand that this work requires support and a critical “outside” perspective. Identify data mentors in your organization that can help you pull back the wallpaper to identify hidden inequities.

Wallpaper Effect: The Wallpaper Effect is the term associated with the use of superficial data that cover up real, deeply rooted inequities, which is a constant risk when addressing systemic inequities.
Combination Data: Combination data are data points that overlap to reveal more closely the complexities related to equity questions. Using combination data helps us peel back layers to expose conditions previously hidden below the surface.
Data Inquiry with an Equity Lens: Data fluency in this context is the act of interacting with data to counteract the ever-present risk of the Wallpaper Effect, make sure to include data not typically analyzed and typical data through an equity lens.
Other Data: These include (a) data not typically analyzed and (b) typical data viewed through an equity lens.

Equity leaders advocate for all students using data as a tool to uncover hidden inequitable practices.
Equity leaders peel back the layers of systematic oppression for specific groups of students by engaging in equity discussions and data dives (26). Being aware of the Wallpaper Effect is key to uncovering and eliminating hidden inequities.
Equity leaders have the will to pursue equity and the courage and skill to use data as an equity tool to challenge inequitable systems that harm students.

Common Goal: Use data to uncover underlying inequities and have uncomfortable conversations centered around those inequities.

Our Call to Action:

Continue to reflect on your own mindset regarding race and privilege.
Begin to dismantle inequities for all students and staff (policies, practices, procedures).
Listen to the voices of students, families, and employees (what are their stories?).
Go out and ACT NOW!

Call to Action Focus: Number 1 and 2 - Self-reflection on Race/Privilege and Dismantle Inequities

Equity Practice:

Identify your site’s equity warrior(s) to help you in asking critical questions that you may not be able to see because you are too close to the situation.
Be intentional in analyzing data not typically used (discipline data, teacher, subject area, race, gender, SES, EL, SPED, etc.)
Engage in a systematic process of analyzing other data and combination data to test hunches and arrive at better questions to help achieve a deep understanding of systemic inequities.
Make the invisible visible by analyzing data, layer by layer, to get at the root of hidden systemic inequities.

In what ways can you use data as an equity tool?
Is our data masking underlying inequities that perpetuate historical underachievement?
1. Activity: Using your Smarter Balanced Assessment Data for the 2018-19 SY, break it down by the subgroups listed in the chart. What trend(s) do see:
Is our data obscuring the educational glass ceiling that is creating a barrier for some students and not others?
1. Complete the chart from Activity 2a for one or more of the following:
  1. Discipline
  2. AP Courses
  3. FAFSA
  4. A-G Completion
  5. Intervention Courses
  6. Special Education
  7. DIBELS
Have you ever wondered what can change for students’ lives when we use data to uncover deeply rooted systemic inequities in the school system?
1. Reflect back to the charts you’ve completed, what barriers can be removed to create a path equity within our school system?

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