Reimagining Equity in a Borderland District: Lessons from a Comprehensive Equity Assessment

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Saturday 9:45 am - Gold 2
  In Roundtable Session: Unforgetting Bias and Reimagining Systems: Novel Mixed Methods Approaches for Educational Equity and Decision-Making

Abstract

This paper presents findings from a districtwide equity assessment conducted in a large, urban public school system along the U.S.-Mexico border. Using a mixed-methods, community-engaged approach, the study examined how district systems, policies, and practices support or hinder equity across six key domains. Grounded in critical race theory, intersectionality, and liberatory design, the assessment surfaced both promising efforts and persistent disparities, particularly amid a politically charged climate. Findings highlight the uneven implementation of culturally responsive teaching, resource gaps, and varied stakeholder trust in leadership. This study contributes a replicable model for equity audits that “unforget” historical exclusions while imagining community-driven, systemwide change. It offers lessons for districts navigating demographic shifts, legal mandates, and resistance to equity-focused education.

Authors

• Katarzyna Razynska, MAEC

• Kelly Ocasio, University of Texas at Austin

• Miranda Best, Mid Atlantic Equity Consortium

• Karmen Rouland, MAEC