Our Why?

CLOSE OPPORTUNITY GAPS

"Many of our students experience multi-generational opportunity gaps created or exacerbated by structural inequalities and institutional policies and practices. Opportunity gaps refer to the differential availability of, access to, and experiences with high-quality resources among members of groups defined by socially constructed categories (e.g., race, ethnicity, class, and gender). Our evaluative work with opportunity gaps focuses on educational resources aimed at supporting students’ academic or social-emotional needs or at engaging family and community members. Although we focus our work on these educational resources, we recognize the additional influence other resources have on student educational outcomes (e.g., availability of, access to, and experiences with health-related resources)." (LAUSD, 2023)

Our role in research…

gather and synthesize information and the views of stakeholders you represent rather than provide your own personal or independent advice based on your own individual expertise and experience. Many students are experiencing opportunity gaps also are chronically absent from school which impacts life-course outcomes.

Chronic Absenteeism is influenced by several key trends, including the shift toward enrollment policy and digital platform solutions, the integration of multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS), compulsory compliance and equitable school resources across California.

Read December 2023 Identify Addressing Priority and Education Needs, Regional Advisory Committee West Report to understand the research and how we lead focus groups to understand our communities needs.