Equity, diversity and access are key goals in both private and public settings. In K-12 education, equity is a key aspect of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Schools are increasingly being held responsible for addressing the performance of particular subgroups of the population and closing achievement gaps. In business and industry, “equal opportunity” has been a theme for nearly 50 years. How can accountability be used to promote equity and diversity? Unit learning goals When you finish this unit you will have learned to: 1. Understand how the disaggregation of data by a subgroup can be used as a vehicle for closing achievement gaps. 2. Understand issues of fairness and bias involved in the assessment of English language learners and members of racial minority groups.

Question to answer before class as you complete your reading assignment: 1. How can accountability promote diversity? 2. When does accountability hinder equity? What indicators can be used in your workplace to assess progress towards equity?