Integrating Data to Examine Policy and Complex Equity Issues: An Illustrative Case in Special Education

In this policy forum, we demonstrate how data integration and harmonization can support policymakers and practitioners to better understand contextually situated complex equity issues and drive meaningful, system-wide reform that is responsive to federal monitoring requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) related to racial disparities in special education. The lack of both integration and harmonization of equity-related data makes it difficult to track at a macro level and respond at a micro level to patterns of inequity in a coordinated and proactive manner. As a result, responses to disparities are often piecemeal and fragmented. Using a suburban district in Washington as our case study, we demonstrate that integrating data across state and federal agencies enables more impactful, contextually situated, and nuanced understandings of the impact of federal policy. And when harmonized, equity-related data can offer a more comprehensive view of how, where, and for whom disparate opportunity occurs and provide much-needed insights on how to create more meaningful systems-level change for marginalized students.