Driving EdTech Systems: Racial Equity

Overview

Addressing systemic challenges requires systemic solutions. This belief drives the EdTech Systems Guide, developed by The Learning Accelerator (TLA) in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Educational Technology (MA DESE OET). We recognize that inequities in student experiences and outcomes exist based on various factors such as ability status, language, and income. However, race often intersects with these factors, leading to compounded inequities. By centering racial equity specifically, we focus on addressing the needs of students who have been traditionally least well-served by our school systems. This guide approaches edtech systems and practices as vehicles for school and system leaders to disrupt systemic disparities and promote racial equity. To help users of the EdTech Systems Guide unlock this potential, this resource outlines critical opportunities for edtech systems to promote racial equity in their practices.

Practices

Many participants of the 2023-24 EdTech Peer Learning Cohort, facilitated by TLA in partnership with MA DESE OET, identified addressing racial equity as a critical focus for their edtech systems improvement efforts. For example, one team focused on centering racial equity by improving implementation of reading and English Language Arts (ELA) tools in high school while specifically focusing on improving the use and experience for Black female students, the student subgroup experiencing the least success in the school system. Another team researched and addressed the core challenges resulting in low usage of their Student Information System by their multilingual Latine families. The cohort's work highlighted several specific opportunities to promote racial equity through equitable edtech selection, implementation, and evaluation processes. These practices are outlined below:

Foundational Practices

Before turning to specific selection, implementation, and evaluation processes, engage in foundational practices that inform your understanding of the racial disparities within your context and how you might leverage edtech as a systemic solution. Consider the following opportunities:

• Using Data to Identify Racial Disparities: Collect and analyze data (e.g., student outcomes, edtech tool usage), like that reported in the Massachusetts Student Outcome Comparison tool, to uncover disparities in outcomes for students of color and identify barriers they may face in accessing and benefiting from edtech tools. Utilize methods such as this reflection protocol or the Five Whys activity to uncover the root causes of these disparities. This ensures that you address real challenges – rather than merely symptoms – as you design solutions and improve systems.

• Engaging Stakeholders to Unpack Racial Disparities: Actively involve students, families, educators, and community members in identifying racial disparities and adding context to your understanding of the disparities that you uncovered through your data collection and analysis. Use surveys, interviews, and focus groups to collect demographic information, gain insights into students' experiences from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, and elevate the needs and preferences of students from historically marginalized groups, including Black, Hispanic, Latine, and Indigenous people of color.

• Approaching Racial Equity as a Continuous Improvement Process: Treat improving racial equity as an ongoing effort that requires regular review and refinement. Establish mechanisms for collecting data and feedback on equity practices from staff, students, and families, and use this feedback to track progress toward your goals over time.

Selection

Your edtech selection practices offer a powerful opportunity to ensure the tools entering your school or system promote racial equity. When considering new edtech tools for selection, the following should be non-negotiable criteria:

• Cultural Relevance: Select edtech tools that reflect and respect diverse cultural backgrounds, and guarantee representation of your student populations. Ensure that content and interfaces are inclusive and representative of all students, especially those from racial groups historically positioned furthest from opportunity.

• Bias Mitigation: Choose tools that have been evaluated for bias and include features to mitigate potential biases in content and algorithms. This includes ensuring that tools integrating artificial intelligence (AI) are designed to recognize and address biases affecting students of color. At the same time, it is important to recognize that bias can never be completely mitigated. In addition to limiting bias where possible, support staff and students to identify when they see biased content and foster critical discussions about its context and impact.

• Vendor Accountability: Partner with vendors who demonstrate a commitment to racial equity. This includes their internal practices, such as diversity in their workforce, as well as their external practices, such as inclusive product development and support for equity initiatives.

Many organizations are coordinating around the need for better-designed edtech tools to promote equity. To help you navigate the edtech marketplace, consider looking for certifications like Digital Promise’s Prioritizing Racial Equity seal.

Implementation

Selecting better tools will only go so far. To unlock the potential for edtech to promote racial equity, you must also consider how you support the people who drive edtech implementation. Consider the following areas for professional development to ensure your stakeholders have the tools needed to center and promote racial equity as they implement edtech:

• Racial Equity Awareness: Educate staff and students on the importance of racial equity in education and technology. Discuss the impact of systemic racism and the role of edtech in addressing or perpetuating these issues. Use real-world examples, including data from your school or school system, to illustrate disparities and highlight the importance of centering racial equity in systems improvement efforts.

• Inclusive Instructional Practices: Train staff on inclusive teaching practices that leverage edtech tools to support diverse learners and address the needs identified in your school or system. Provide strategies that use technology in alignment with culturally and linguistically sustaining instruction.

• Racial Equity as a Continuous Improvement Effort: Encourage educators to reflect on their instructional practices regularly, use data to identify disparities, set measurable equity goals, seek and incorporate feedback, and stay up-to-date with the latest research and best practices. Encourage collaboration and celebrate progress to sustain a long-term commitment to equity.

Focusing on these key areas and providing comprehensive training and support can ensure that all stakeholders are equipped to use edtech tools to promote racial equity. To support your efforts, utilize resources from trusted equity-focused organizations, such as the U.S. Department of Education’s Equity Assistance Centers and the National Equity Project.

Evaluation

Your edtech evaluation processes also offer opportunities to promote racial equity. Regularly evaluate the impact of your edtech tools and systems on your efforts to promote racial equity by:

• Conducting Equity Audits: Schedule regular equity audits to assess the effectiveness of your tech-related equity initiatives. Review data on student outcomes, technology access, and edtech tools' inclusivity, and identify disparities in performance, participation, and resource allocation among racial and ethnic groups. Gather input from students, families, teachers, and community members to gain a well-rounded perspective. Use surveys, interviews, and focus groups to collect qualitative data. Develop actionable insights based on audit findings and create detailed reports outlining strengths, areas for improvement, and specific recommendations for enhancing equity practices.

• Monitoring Access and Usage: Implement or improve systems to monitor the access and usage of edtech tools by different student groups. Examine usage patterns to understand how different groups of students interact with edtech tools, identify disparities, and address barriers preventing specific subgroups of students from using edtech tools effectively (e.g., internet connectivity, device availability, digital literacy skills).

Focusing on racial equity is essential for building an effective and inclusive edtech environment. By developing robust equity policies, training staff and students, regularly evaluating practices, and communicating transparently, edtech leaders can ensure that technology serves all students equitably. Continuously returning to and refining these practices will help promote racial equity and foster a culture of trust and inclusion within your educational community.

This strategy is a part of TLA's Driving EdTech Systems series, which accompanies the EdTech Systems Guide developed in partnership with MA DESE OET. Explore the full guide to find additional strategies, insights, and resources.