B6.16 - Approve the Agreement for Technical Services #20129-ATS-IV with New York City Leadership Academy (Chief of Schools, Administration, and Leadership Development)

The goal of the Wallace Foundation Grant is to expand learning and enrichment for disadvantaged children and the vitality of the arts for everyone. The New York City Leadership Academy (NYCLA) will engage the district in an equity audit process to diagnose the current state of equity in the district (including examining the impact of COVID-19) and to identify focal points and recommended strategies for making improvements. The equity audit process timeline would be accomplished in 6-8 weeks in collaboration with the Chief of Equity and Diversity and her team. The NYCLA is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization with a mission: to build the capacity of educational leaders, at every level of the system, to confront inequities and create the conditions necessary for all students to thrive. NYCLA is committed to eliminating the inequities that students experience based on race and other factors, through the development of school and district-based leaders with the will and skill to build culturally responsive, equitable learning environments that serve all students.  

What makes NYCLA’s process unique and effective:

• The process is highly collaborative with district leaders and stakeholders. NYCLA works alongside and facilitates the process of a district equity committee that helps identify data sources, consider the most important areas of focus, etc. 
• The audit process prioritizes stakeholder voice alongside other forms of data. NYCLA supports the district in facilitating a series of focus groups or “town halls” to gather broad feedback.
• The Research and Evaluation team synthesizes the data and feedback in order to engage the district in a root cause analysis to determine strategies for the challenges that emerge.
• NYCLA utilizes a cycle of inquiry process to shape the strategies and action plans resulting from the equity audit.

NYCLA uses exemplary leadership practices as part of their formal school system-level equity-focused strategic planning work. The identified exemplars grew out of a review of research, literature, and interviews with current and former school system leaders from across the nation who succeeded in effectively addressing some disparities in student learning and school culture.

By comparing the district’s current state of work with the ideal state depicted in the proven exemplars, districts can begin to identify equity gaps in system’s policies and practices. The outcomes assist districts in creating innovative approaches to equity with recommendations on how to put some of the practices into action.  

The equity audit outcomes will identify where the district is already engaging in work that is likely to help reduce inequities and where the district needs to work to create an equity action plan and make the necessary changes. 

* Develop a culture of respect, trust, collaboration and equity

* Improve Student Achievement

That the Board approve agreement #20129-ATS-IV with the NYCLA for an equity audit under the Wallace Foundation Grant.

Kim Bays, Chief of Schools, Administration and Leadership Development, kim.bays@hcps.net, (813) 272-4071

Funds in the amount of $24,500 will be paid by the Wallace Foundation Grant.