Districts Advancing Racial Equity (DARE) Tool
Maria E. Hyler, Desiree Carver-Thomas, Marjorie Wechsler, and Larkin Willis; Learning Policy Institute and the Southern Education Foundation
The Districts Advancing Racial Equity (DARE) tool brings together — in a uniquely broad and practical way — what is known about district actions that can support racial equity. The tool captures research-informed, high-leverage aspects of schooling that leaders must address in order to create systems that build on the strengths of and respond to the needs of students of color.
This tool is not an exhaustive, one-size-fits-all manual for advancing racial equity in school districts. Rather, it helps conceptualize and organize systems-level equity work and provides a guide for district leaders to interrogate their systems, set equity-oriented goals, and track progress over time. The tool offers a framework for district leaders and staff to understand the complex ecosystem of policies and practices they design and enact. The tool also contains a set of qualitative and quantitative indicators to support data-informed decision-making and track progress toward greater racial equity.