4 May 2022

TO: Westerly School Committee

SUBJECT: WESTERLY ARC SUPPORTS WESTERLY PUBLIC SCHOOLS EQUITY AUDIT

An Equity Audit for a public school district identifies critical discrepancies in academic and
non-academic opportunities for students. Such discrepancies can create significant gaps in student
achievement. A methodical analysis of these gaps documents the nature and scope of the
issues–if any. We at ARC strongly believe there are and that they burden students from all
backgrounds and abilities. The Audit will examine school policies, processes and programs; academic
performance and expectations; student, teacher, parent perspectives, and representation. Findings
from the Audit will help guide the School Committee and School Administration develop targeted
strategies for meaningful change. Without a comprehensive Audit, the School Committee and
School Administration will only be guessing at what academic and achievement gaps exist and
how to address them.

Equity is different from equality. Equity means treating all students fairly with no preconceived
notions about who will succeed and who will fail. Equity means acknowledging it is not a level playing
field. It means understanding that all students come from different starting points, with different
toolboxes to help them succeed in school. It means acknowledging these differences and working to
improve outcomes for all. Equality, on the other hand, means equal access to education and resources,
which is mandated by law.

It is essential that the effort is led by independent, knowledgeable Auditors. It is not reasonable to
expect that people interviewed will express the same concerns to a School Administrator as to an
experienced Auditor. In addition, unconscious bias and school politics would most likely invalidate
results. To receive an honest and reliable assessment, someone impartial needs to perform it. In
addition, WPS will benefit from the experience and expertise of a firm that has worked with many
other school districts on the same type of problem.
Our schools should be a place where every student has the opportunity to find their passions, succeed,
feel safe and have a path for their future. When inequities arise, unbalanced access to learning and
funding resources means that certain groups of students are often put at a disadvantage. Oftentimes,
these imbalances can be the result of socioeconomic or racial disparities, but no matter the cause, they
must be addressed so that all students will benefit equally. Our schools are the source engine for
mobility in our society; an equitable school is a ticket for success for our students.

This work is difficult. It’s about making the invisible visible - unearthing beliefs and biases that had
not been understood or acknowledged before. We believe WPS must undertake this hard work to get
things right for students. We must dig deeply for change - real change that creates equitable
opportunities and equal outcomes to occur. This work, from start to finish, is about improving
student outcomes.

Sincerely,

Westerly ARC
April Dinwoodie
Leslie Dunn
Madeline Labriola
Kevin “Big Lux” Lowther
Anne Pearce
Katherine Rosen