A Data Opportunity Gap? Examining Racial Disaggregation Patterns in State and Urban District Data Portals

• In Event: Addressing Critical Perspectives and Equity in Data Use Research and Practice

Abstract

School-level data plays an important role in influencing educational policy, particularly around the racial “achievement gap.” However, many scholars are increasingly critiquing concept of the “achievement gap” because it ignores the differences in opportunities afforded to students in school (Ladson-Billings, 2006; Milner, 2012). In this study, we apply a critical data studies perspective to the school-level data portals for state education agencies and urban districts. We found that states and districts were more likely to report, and disaggregate by race, student data focused on outcomes and less likely to report data and disaggregate data on student experiences in schools. We argue that states and districts should collect, report, and disaggregate more indicators on student experience in schools.

Authors

• Joshua Littenberg-Tobias, GBH

• Karyn Nakamura, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

• Giulia Alvarenga, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

• Anna Meurer, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

• G.R. Marvez, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

• Justin Fire Reich, Massachusetts Institute of Technology