The Sacramento Unified School District (SCUSD)’s African American students have ranked as the lowest performing student group across performance and achievement indicators, and additional analysis revealed that SCUSD’s Black students also faced disproportionate suspension rates and overuse of punitive discipline practices. In response to these indicators, the district sought to reform these achievement inequities, and therefore contracted R.T. Fisher to implement a comprehensive intervention.

R.T. Fisher conducted in-depth data analyses to identify root causes and formulate recommendations; provided extensive research informing best practices to raise Black/African American student achievement; engaged a parent/community task force; and built district capacity to sustain equitable outcomes.

As a result of this intervention, SCUSD has developed respective sets of measurable recommendations and objectives to improve Black/African American student achievement; in addition, multiple dedicated committees— including SCUSD’s Black/African American Advisory Board—now exist to monitor the district’s implementation of the recommendations and data and report out to district stakeholders.