Introduction: Your staff will be constructing new learning by examining school data and student achievement through a racially responsive lens. First, choose a limited amount of school data (e.g.: ITBS, WASL, Value Added). Determine the content focus (e.g.: reading, math, writing) and provide copies for all staff.

Use the following guiding questions in your small group discussions. Each group should chart their answers to share back to the full group. The total process should take 1.5 hours.

1. Based on this set of school data, what are the strengths of the students in our school?

a. In what strand(s) do students excel?
b. What are the specific skills/processes that provide evidence of strength in this area?

2. How can we account for these strengths?

a. Where in the curriculum is this taught?
b. At what grade will we find it?
c. How much time have we spent on it?
d. What teaching styles were we using to instruct?

3. What are the areas that racial sub-groups of our students should improve upon?

a. Strand(s)?
b. Skills/Processes

4. How can we account for the lower performance of sub-groups of students on some of the items?

b. Where in the curriculum is this taught?
c. At what grade level will we find it?
d. How much time have we spent on it?
e. What teaching style were we using to instruct?