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Equity audit: Piscataway report highlights belonging gaps, lower high-school engagement
Summary
Dr. Alex Gray summarized a near-200-page equity audit that found strong participation in surveys but a decline in engagement from middle to high school, lower belonging among some male and underrepresented students, and recommended public-facing summaries, targeted professional development and parent engagement strategies.
Dr. Alex Gray presented highlights from a comprehensive district equity audit to the Piscataway Township Board of Education on April 19, telling the board the full document runs near 200 pages and contains targeted recommendations for schools and district leaders.
Gray said the audit combined survey responses and qualitative interviews gathered beginning in mid-2023. He reported roughly an 80% response rate among students in grades 6'12, about a 30% staff response rate for the longer voluntary survey, and a roughly 90% response rate from district leaders; approximately 450 families also responded and those family responses reflected district demographics, he said.
The audit's central findings included a decline in student engagement from middle to high school, notably for juniors and seniors, and lower feelings of belonging reported by male students in some cohorts. Gray emphasized that "students tend to thrive more when we foster inclusive environments" and said culturally responsive instruction and stronger school'family connections were among the key recommendations.
Board discussion referenced specific next steps the administration plans to take: produce a public-facing summary of the audit (so community members are not required to read the entire 200-page report), meet with individual principals to review school-level data, and pursue professional development focused on culturally responsive teaching and inclusive communication. The presentation also suggested drilling down further by grade band and demographic groups to target interventions.
The board and administration discussed practical follow-ups including a shorter public summary, additional principal-level briefings and exploring parent-led professional development sessions. Dr. Gray said the audit will be used to refine the district's strategic plan and that staff will return with school-level plans and timelines.
