Description
Book SynopsisWhen the numbers don’t lie, this is your guide to doing what’s right
According to federal data, African American students are more than three times as likely as their white peers to be suspended or expelled. As a school leader, what do you do when your heart is in the right place, but your data show otherwise?
In Solving Disproportionality and Achieving Equity, Edward Fergus takes us on a journey into disproportionality by engaging our hearts and minds on the presence of biases that create barriers to the success of students of color. If your school is faced with a disproportionate rate of suspensions, gifted program enrollment, or special education referrals for students of color, this book shows how you can uncover the root causes and rally your staff to face the challenge head on. You will:
- Understand through compelling vignettes and case studies how bias affects policies and practices even in good schools
- Know what questions to ask and what data to analyze to get to the root cause
- Create your own road map for becoming an equity-driven school, with staff activities, data collection forms, checklists, and progress monitoring tools
If you are interested in developing a deep understanding of the policy, practice, and beliefs necessary for schools to address disproportionality and achieve equity, this book delivers all that and more.
"Through careful analysis of data obtained from real cases, Edward Fergus shows how disproportionality is manifest and how it can be thoughtfully addressed. For educators and policy makers seeking solutions to these complex issues, this book will be an invaluable resource."
—Pedro Noguera, Distinguished Professor of Education
UCLA, Graduate Schools of Education and Information Studies
Trade Review"Throughout the country, a growing number of educators have come to the realization that disproportionality in the placement of children of color in special education, and in school discipline practices, is a vital equity issue that must be confronted. In this important new book, Dr. Edward Fergus explains why this issue is so important and he shows what educators can do to solve the problem. Through careful analysis of data obtained from real cases, he shows how the problem is manifest and how it can be thoughtfully addressed. For educators and policy makers seeking solutions to these complex issues, this book will be an invaluable resource." -- Pedro Noguera, Distinguished Professor of Education
"Solving Disproportionality and Achieving Equity
addresses burning and significant needs and issues in the field, including areas in which districts are facing legal requirements for action. The synthesis of research, theory, application, with an acknowledgment of the interpersonal and emotional dimensions of this work all contribute to its value." -- Gary Bloom, Senior Program Consultant
"I believe that this text has the potential to become a bible for every school leader who truly wants to examine the inequities in schools and then move forward with a comprehensive plan applying a sound analysis of the data." -- William A. Howe, Educator
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments About the Author Introduction Changing Landscape of Teaching Force and Its Effect on Disproportionality The Backdrop of the Integration Project Framework Organization of the Book Sample Road Map for Creating an Equity-Driven School Chapter 1. Social Integration and Intensified Segregation Leading to Disproportionality Post–Brown v. Topeka Board of Education Integration Patterns Integration Project: Patterns of Student Enrollment Demographics Integration Project: Patterns of Teacher and Principal Demographics Chapter 2. Knowing the Bias-Based Beliefs in Disproportionality Bias-Based Beliefs in Pedagogy and School Practice: How Does It Show Up in Schools? Colorblindness Belief Deficit-Thinking Belief Poverty-Disciplining Belief Chapter 3. Leadership Inquiry Skills for Building Equity Focus Section 1: Understanding Your Data and Data System Capacity Section 2: Practicing Analysis and Interpretation of Data: Case Studies Chapter 4. A Process for Identifying Disproportionality and Building an Equity Plan Step 1: Identifying Your Starting Place Step 2: Root Cause Process for Understanding Disproportionality Problems Step 3: Monitoring Equity Work: 3- to 5-Year Span of Work Step 4: Progress-Monitoring Tools: Monthly Data Calendar Additional Equity Examinations Chapter 5. Building an Equity Belief School Climate Leading Equity Competency 1: Know How to Manage Race Dialogues Leading Equity Competency 2: Know How to Manage the Comfortable and Uncomfortable Tensions of Learning and Practice Stage 1 Activities: Building Universal Equity Principles Stage 2 Activities: Monthly or Quarterly Sessions on Bias-Based Beliefs Other Ongoing Activities for Replacing Biased Beliefs Application Activities Appendixes 1. Data Inventory Worksheet 2. Planning Sheet for Addressing Beliefs and Building Equity Principles 3. Exit Ticket 4. Definitions of Educational Equity Worksheet 5. Applying Definitions of Educational Equity 6. Applying Definitions of Educational Equity: Homework Worksheet 7. Building Our Universal Equity Principles Worksheet 8. Shifting Deficit-Thinking Worksheet 9. Shifting Deficit-Thinking Survey Worksheet 10. Definition Flashcards 11. Shifting Poverty-Disciplining Belief Statements Worksheet 12. Shifting Poverty-Disciplining Belief Statements Survey Worksheet 13. Meritocracy Line Exercise 14. Dual-Axis Model of Vulnerability 15. Dual-Axis Model of Vulnerability Application Worksheet 16. Racial Timeline Worksheet 17. Racial and Ethnic Group Worksheet 18. Shifting Common Colorblindness Statements Worksheet 19. Shifting Common Colorblindness Statements Survey Worksheet 20. Cultural Responsibility Beliefs Worksheet 21. Looking at Books Worksheet 22. Observing Classroom Environments Worksheet 23. Equity Resources for Curricular, Culture/Climate, and Instruction References Index
