Equity & Achievement - Background

Federal Way Public Schools' Office of Equity and Achievement was established in May 2001, following the release of a report showing disparities in students’ achievement by demographic groups. The School Board authorized the appointment of Alma Dansby to head the new Office of Equity & Achievement and to coordinate the work of a community-based task force to explore these issues.

Plan to 'Close the Gap'

Superintendent Tom Murphy presented the district's plan for closing the achievement gap at the Federal Way Board of Education meeting on August 13, 2002. The plan incorporates a variety of elements that are intended to cultivate an education system in which parents are involved in more meaningful ways, teachers enjoy greater satisfaction, staff have professional development opportunities which allow them to enhance effective instructional practices and all children can achieve academic success. The plan has since become a living document, which is updated to reflect more current information.

Plan to 'Close the Gap' (404K PDF)

Equity and Achievement Task Force

The task force met through the summer and fall of 2001 and explored the causes for the gap, including those typically cited for students’ poor school performance: poverty, mobility, cultural barriers and parent access and involvement. The task force report was presented at the November 26, 2001, Federal Way School Board Meeting.

Download the Task Force's full Report to the Superintendent (1.89 MB PDF)

A Gap Advisory Committee made up of district staff and community members was later formed to review the Equity & Achievement Task Force Report. This committee developed short and long term goals for the district. Superintendent Murphy presented these goals to the school board in August 2002.

A new group will be meeting this year to monitor the implementation of the Close the Gap Plan.  Since the original task force was formed, Federal Way Public Schools has made significant progress in closing the gap in elementary schools. The focus of this committee will be the work around closing the Achievement Gap in secondary schools. The Equity and Achievement Committee will meet monthly, and updates from their meetings will be provided on this website. 

Other Related Information

• Superintendent's May 2001 Presentation to the Board (81K PDF)
• Related Reading
• May 29, 2001 Press Release - Federal Way School District Releases Data Showing Gap in African American, Hispanic, and Native American Students' Achievement
• July 19, 2001 Press Release -FederalWaySchool District Announces Equity & Achievement Task Force