This book addresses equity auditing at the community level. The inspiration for the book emerged from two sources. The first was hearing the frustration expressed from school leaders and teachers when trying to address the educational needs of and expectations for their students while also having to contend with the socio-structural issues that function as roadblocks to their success, particularly for low-income students and those living in poverty. These include lack of sufficient housing, exposure to high levels of crime and violence, inadequate fresh and nutritious food, deficient healthcare, and an absence of community resources such as safe play spaces. The second was the realization that many of the citizens within a city or school district are unaware of the disparate conditions among their neighborhoods and communities, including those stakeholders who are in a position to make needed policy changes. The purpose, then, of this book is to provide examples of community equity audits, using geographic information system mapping and other data. These audits create a picture and story of the inequities among communities and the need for community equity audits to raise the awareness of those who can influence policy and practices to create communities that promote the health and well-being of their citizens, most especially their children, so that the opportunity gap can be eliminated and schools can well-educate all of their students. The need for this information is great because schools alone cannot achieve all their educational goals if students and their families are living in circumstances that negatively impact their health, well-being and ultimately their chances to succeed.



This book attempts to help practitioners and university faculty address what we believe is the most challenging and important issue in education today-how to ensure that all students have the opportunity and support they need to be successful in school and life.