Friends:

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Do you like data?

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The Oregon Department of Education is seeking members for its Data Justice Stewards Advisory Group.? You can find more information below:

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The department is seeking

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• A demonstrated commitment to racial equity, social and economic justice, diversity and inclusion;
• Personal and/or professional experience and knowledge in data justice, public policy, education policy, research or evaluation, algorithmic justice, and/or data;
• Prior experience or expertise in serving student focal groups; and
• Education and community partners, including parent, guardian, or caretaker of students in student focal groups; representatives of tribal governments and community-based organizations

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The application mentions “focal groups” twice.? Here is the current list, which was created by the Student Investment Act:

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Students experiencing poverty

Students of color

Students with disabilities

Students who are emerging bilinguals

Students experiencing homelessness

Students experiencing foster care.

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? TAG students in any of those groups can be part of SIA services as members of the focal group but TAG students and high-achieving students as a group were deliberately disqualified from inclusion on the list of “focal groups”.? According to the Department, TAG students do not experience “academic disparities.”

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Plans may be developed for LGBTQSIA+ students, students who are recent arrivals, students who are migrants, and students experiencing detention or incarceration.

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It looks like the group will only meet twice this year.? It would be very helpful to have someone on the group advising about data reporting as it affects high-achieving students and gifted student populations and letting the TAG community know what is being planned.? The research I have done myself in the past demonstrated that Black students who “exceeded” benchmarks made lower achievement gains than any other single group. Currently, most state data combines the gains of students who “met” benchmarks with students who “exceeded” them, or breaks data down by ethnicity without breaking it down further by ability level.? This conceals the problem. ??I would like to see that information captured and reported in the future.

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Margaret

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