School Board Newsletter: Our Equity Goals and How We Are Doing

Equity goals without accountability are just aspirations. A board that sets specific equity goals and then reports publicly on what the data shows, including gaps that remain, builds trust with the community members who have the most at stake in whether those goals are real. An equity goals update newsletter is the accountability practice that makes equity commitments mean something.

Remind the community of the equity goals

Open with a brief reminder of the specific equity goals the board adopted. State the goals as they were originally articulated, with their original baseline data and the targets the board set. Families who need to refresh their memory on what the board committed to should be able to do so in the first paragraph.

Report the current data against each goal

For each equity goal, present the current data. State the baseline, the target, and where the district currently stands. Use specific numbers. "The gap in third-grade reading proficiency between economically disadvantaged students and their peers has narrowed from 22 percentage points to 17 percentage points over two years" is specific and meaningful.

Describe goals that are on track

For goals where progress is meeting expectations, describe what strategies appear to be working. Name the specific interventions, programs, or resource allocations that correlate with the progress being made. This is the section that validates the board's investment in equity-focused work.

Describe goals that are not being met

For goals where progress is lagging, be specific about the gap between expectations and reality. Describe what analysis the board and district have done to understand the barriers. Describe what adjustments are being made. Families who see honest analysis of failure alongside honest analysis of success trust the accountability process.

Describe the interventions and programs supporting equity goals

Name the specific programs, staff positions, and resource allocations that are connected to equity goal work. This connects the board's budget decisions to its equity commitments and makes both more accountable.

Describe any goal revisions and why

If circumstances have required revisions to the original targets or timelines, describe the changes and their rationale. Changed goals without explanation look like lowered expectations.

Commit to the next reporting cycle

Close with a specific commitment to the next equity progress report and the data it will include. Daystage gives district teams a professional newsletter platform for delivering equity progress reports that build community confidence that equity commitments are being kept.