In the spring of 2017, the school committee hired consultant Christine Robinson to help them understand equity challenges in Needham after parents expressed concern about how students were being assigned to classes, feeling that race was a factor. Robinson reviewed more than 70 school documents and interviewed more than 50 school leaders, 50 middle-school and high-school students and 115 parents to perform her equity audit of the Needham education system.
Ms. Robinson presented her initial findings about equity and inclusion in the Needham Public Schools to the School Committee on December 19, 2017. Additional information and next steps will be shared in early 2018.