Research Advisory Committee

The PESB hosts the Research Advisory Committee (RAC) to assist in establishing a research agenda. The committee membership is open to all interested parties. The PESB has specific take-aways from the committee, but is happy to facilitate conversation of interest to all parties related to education and research.

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Next Meeting 

Time: TBD
Place: TBD
Topic: TBD

March 2012 Meeting Preparation Notes

This is a 120 minute meeting to discuss how we might calculate diversity.
  • First, we need to categorize differences.  For this project we will be using OSPI's  CEDARS 2011-12 Data Manual.  There are categories outside of the manual that could be helpful, but for this meeting we will be focusing on only elements that are currently being collected.  A big challenge of the categorization schema is that the elements are not mutually exclusive.  For instance, someone could be categorized as Poor, Hispanic, Native American, Urban, English as a second language, and Special Education.
  • Next, we need to define an algorithm to define diversity (see Diversity Index).  Will it fit with the categorization schema?
  • Finally, how do we report on diversity?   Diversity as a concept means equally proportional sets, but that is probably not what people mean when they ask if someone has experience in a diverse setting.  For race/ethnicity, this probably means education program graduates will have experience working with students from underrepresented groups.  They are not asking about the number or proportionality of the unique groups.  For poverty, this probably means education program graduates will have experience working with students who are economically disadvantaged, but this probably doesn't mean that candidates working with the very poor need experiences working the the very rich so that the number and proportion of groups is equal.  

Scope

We will be be talking only about how to calculate diversity.  The discussion will be limited to direct, empirical, and measurable evidence.  Also, the categories of diversity will be limited elements already being collected, no wish lists or "wouldn't it be great if." (this belongs with OSPI's Data Governance Work Group).  Policy topics such as whether this should be measured or the unintended consequences of measuring are outside of the scope of this meeting.

Goal

We would like a strong position on how diversity should be calculated form the elements collected.  We would like like an algorithm of how this will be measured (index).  We would like a some input on how this should be reported (compared).   We only have 120 minutes so we don't have time to start from scratch.  Please take a minute to familiarize yourself with the CEDARS elements and come prepared to put something out on the table.   



Extra Resources

PESB's Standard 4.5

Diversity in learning experiences.

  • Candidates have significant interaction with diverse populations including colleagues, faculty, P-12 practitioners, and P-12 students and families.
    • Candidates reflect on interactions with diverse populations in order to integrate professional growth in cultural competency as a habit of practice.
    • Candidates integrate their cultural and linguistic backgrounds into classroom activities in order to build the multicultural capacity of the preparation program cohort.
  • Faculty model equity pedagogy through:
    • Interaction with diverse populations;
    • Reflective practice on their own professional growth in cultural competency;
    • Culturally relevant communication and problem solving; and
    • Personalized instruction that addresses cultural and linguistic backgrounds.