Unrealized Impact: The Case for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is a groundbreaking study of DEI in organizations across the education sector.
Read the Executive Summary
Why is this study a unique contribution to the field?
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The study collected more DEI data from more organizations than ever before
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The study gives a voice to cross-sector DEI-related staff experience for the first time
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The study explores how leaders in the sector believe that organizational DEI is linked with student outcomes.
The research was designed to include input from a wide range of education organizations: charter management organizations, nonprofit organizations, schools, advocacy groups, think tanks, foundations and technology providers. More than 250 organizations and nearly 5,000 individuals participated in the study.
We approach this study with a perspective: Diverse, equitable, and inclusive organizations are better able to support, retain, and sustain staff who maximize student outcomes and create more authentic, sustainable relationships with parents and communities. This study focuses primarily on the first link in that chain: the connection between DEI and internal organizational health and effectiveness.
What are the goals of this project?
This study is designed to deepen understanding of the current state of DEI in education, identify promising practices, and help to fuel action. We use data as a lever for achieving these goals, because we know that without more robust DEI data, we are less likely to act responsively, hold one another accountable, and ultimately, foster more sustained mission effectiveness.
How does this project differ from other DEI studies?
This study does not simply feature information from a single representative of an education organization, but instead analyzes data and provides insights on:
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Organizational policy and practice
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Staff experiences of DEI
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Leaders’ perceptions of connections between increased DEI and improved student outcomes
The unique power of this project comes from our ability to draw connections among these data. To generate these insights, we conducted surveys at over 200 education organizations and received over 5,000 staff responses.
We hope this study inspires further data collection, insight generation, and action. Further, we hope this study inspires our colleagues within education to approach DEI as an imperative and to move forward with conviction to achieve educational equity and excellence for all students.
What is Promise54?
Promise54 is the name of a new organization created in part to continue the work of the Unrealized Impact study. As an incubated startup within Bellwether Education Partners, Promise54 will focus on helping organizations in the education sector to cultivate and sustain equitable and inclusive, high functioning workplaces. Xiomara Padamsee, who currently manages the Talent Services Practice at Bellwether, will serve as Managing Partner.