The Equity Project

The Equity Project Phase1 began in October 2005 with more than 100 students serving on the Superintendent’s Advisory Council (SSAC) and each of the fourteen high school’s Principal’s Advisory Councils (PAC). These students audited the course offerings found in the master schedule of each of their high schools to determine the level of equity. Phase 1 of the Equity Project brought about the completion of an audit of the course offerings of all 14 high schools in Mobile County. This audit is being used to improve course offerings at small or rural schools and is even being used by the school board to address policy decisions. In addition, they helped to develop important questions to ask their peers about the quality of instruction, the safety of the school environment, the perceptions of school climate, and the reasons for school skipping and dropout. The effect was 9,100 student voices that provided insight for both the MCPSS and the community at large. Since The Student Equity Report was released in April 2006, the findings have become a major topic for discussion in the community. The Mobile Register, Mobile’s major paper, published a two-page story outlining the responses to the student survey.  And each high school has requested school-specific data. Now, with their finger on the pulse of how students feel about their education, educators and community members can accelerate their work to improve the quality of public education in Mobile.

The Equity Report won the 2006 Carmen A. Sarnicola Award for “Best Special Report” from the Public Education Network.