1-RFI-2603KM -Comprehensive Equity Audit Inv.pdf

Gwinnett County Public Schools

RFI-2603KM: Comprehensive Equity Audit, Longitudinal ROI Study & Strategic Foresight

1. Purpose & Guiding Framework

1.1 Purpose of the Engagement

Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) seeks a qualified consultant to conduct a comprehensive analysis that integrates:

• A districtwide Equity Audit

• A multi-year Longitudinal ROI Framework evaluating academic, operational, and fiscal returns

• Forecasting & Scenario Planning related to enrollment, economic trends, and policy changes

• Clear, actionable recommendations aligned with Board priorities

1.2 Guiding Principles for the Engagement

Vendors must align their approach with the following overarching principles:

• Equity-Centered Analysis — with emphasis on historically marginalized populations

• Transparency — clear, accessible reporting for leadership and the public

• High-Quality Data & Governance — FERPA-compliant, reproducible, integrated analytics

• Stakeholder Engagement — inclusive, multilingual, and iterative

• Benchmarking — use of peer district comparisons and national best practices

• ROI-Driven Decision Support — short- and long-term impact measurement

2. Scope of Work

2.1 Instructional & Programmatic Equity

• Evaluate access, participation, and outcomes across academic programs and student supports (i.e., core academics, advanced coursework, career pathways, special education, multilingual learner services, social-emotional and mental health supports).

• Evaluate the degree to which district instructional systems and programs provide equitable access to high-quality, culturally responsive learning environments for all subgroups.

• Identify disparities and gaps, causal factors, and cost-effective interventions.

2.2 Organizational Leadership, Governance & Policy Alignment

• Assess current policies, decision-making processes, workflows, and equity-aligned structures.

• Recommend improvements in governance, accountability, and KPI ownership.

2.3 Resource Allocation, Equity & Longitudinal ROI Framework

• Analyze allocation of financial, human, and physical resources with a specific focus on identifying inequities across student groups, schools, clusters, and communities.

• Assess vendor equity, including the distribution of contracting opportunities, participation of diverse vendors, and alignment of procurement practices with GCPS equity goals.

• Develop a district-specific ROI Measurement Framework incorporating cost-benefit, cost-effectiveness, and cost-utility methods, with equity-centered metrics that capture both quantitative and qualitative outcomes.

• Deliver multi-year dashboards and regular “ROI checkpoint” reporting that highlight progress, gaps, and equity implications across all resource investments.

2.4 Enrollment Forecasting & Scenario Modeling

• Produce 3–5-year enrollment projections.

• Deliver Base, Optimistic, and Stressed scenarios with operational implications.

2.5 Economic & Political Risk Assessment

• Assess Georgia-specific policy, funding, and macroeconomic risks.

• Provide stress tests, risk registers, and early-warning indicators.

2.6 Benchmarking & Comparative Analysis

• Identify comparable Georgia and national districts.

• Deliver dashboards showing performance, resource allocation, and outcome benchmarks.

2.7 Stakeholder Engagement & Change Management

• Evaluate district systems and practices for engaging students, families, and community members. Design engagement that is inclusive, multilingual, and iterative—bringing staff, students, families, and community partners into the process to build buy-in and ensure equity perspectives are reflected.

• Co-develop action plans with timelines and accountability.

2.8 Professional Learning & Capacity Building

• Evaluate equity-related professional learning.

• Evaluate core academics, with focus on ELA/Literacy professional learning.

• Recommend micro-credentials, competencies, and ROI-based PD investments.

2.9 School Climate & Inclusion

• Assess district policies, practices, and systems that support an equitable and inclusive school climate, including indicators of belonging, safety, engagement, and discipline.

• Recommend improvements and implementation plans.

2.10 Data Integration, Data Quality & Governance

• Develop data dictionaries, metadata standards, and secure integration pipelines.

• Establish reproducible analytics processes and refresh cycles.

2.11 Transparent Communications & Public Reporting

• Create accessible, multilingual dashboards, infographics, and public summaries.

• Apply best practices for communicating equity and ROI findings.

2.12 Cost & Deliverables

• Detailed pricing breakdown (labor categories, rates, hours, and tools). Value-added options (e.g., training district analysts, turnkey dashboard hosting, and GIS layers).

• Detailed project timeline for each scope of work.

• Not-to-exceed the budget with clear deliverables-based on payment milestones.

Reporting, Communication, and Continuous Improvement

The consultant will provide best practices for communicating equity audit and ROI findings to a variety of stakeholders. Deliverables shall include clear, actionable reports and presentations that highlight key findings, cost-benefit insights, and recommendations for future investments. The consultant will also propose mechanisms for continuous evaluation and adjustment of resource allocation strategies based on ROI and equity findings.

Deliverables and Outcomes

The consultant shall deliver a comprehensive final report summarizing findings, identifying strengths and gaps, and providing actionable, data-driven recommendations aligned with district and Board priorities. This targeted, equity- and ROI-focused approach enables timely implementation and cost efficiency while establishing a strong foundation for future strategic and operational planning.

3. Required Consultant Qualifications

• Expertise in K–12 equity audits, ROI modeling, and forecasting

• Experience with Georgia funding formulas and policy environment

• Demonstrated success producing public-facing dashboards and executive decision tools

• Strong capabilities in econometrics, geospatial modeling, and data governance

Vendor Response Requirements (Total Points: 300) Vendors must provide a structured response organized according to the categories below. Each section should explicitly reference methodology, tools, prior work, staffing, timelines, and deliverables.

1. Instructional & Programmatic Equity (Score 40)

Vendor must describe:

• Approach to evaluating instructional equity across programs (core academics, advanced coursework, CTE, SPED, multilingual learner services, SEL/mental health).

• Methods for identifying disparities, causal factors, and recommended interventions.

• Tools, frameworks, and datasets used in prior audits.

• Proposed deliverables (dashboards, reports, maps, findings).

• Expected district support needed (data, staff interviews, etc.).

2. Leadership, Governance & Policy Alignment (Score 20)

Vendor must describe:

• Methodology for assessing governance structures, workflows, and decision-making.

• Approach for analyzing policy alignment to equity outcomes.

• KPI and accountability framework recommendations.

• Previous experience conducting organizational reviews.

3. Resource Allocation & Longitudinal ROI Framework (Score 30)

Vendor must describe:

• Approach to analyzing financial, human, and physical resource allocation.

• Proposed ROI measurement frameworks (cost-benefit, cost-effectiveness, cost-utility).

• Example dashboards or prior ROI products.

• Proposed cadence for “ROI checkpoint” reporting.

• Data governance and security approach (FERPA, reproducibility).

4. Enrollment Forecasting & Scenario Modeling (Score 20)

Vendor must describe:

• Forecasting methods, time horizons, and accuracy track record.

• Scenario modeling capability (Base, Optimistic, Stressed).

• GIS and demographic modeling tools used.

• Examples of prior deliverables.

5. Economic & Political Risk Assessment (Score 20)

• Approach for identifying economic, funding, and policy risks.

• Stress-testing methodology.

• Examples of risk registers and early-warning indicators.

6. Benchmarking & Comparative Analysis (Score 25)

Vendor must describe:

• Criteria for selecting comparable districts.

• Benchmarking methodologies and tools.

• Experience performing national comparisons.

• Example dashboard formats.

7. Stakeholder Engagement & Change Management (Score 30)

Vendor must describe:

• Approach to inclusive, multilingual stakeholder engagement.

• Methods for synthesizing feedback.

• Change management framework used.

• Co-development process for implementation planning.

8. Professional Learning & Capacity Building (Score 25)

Vendor must describe:

• Process for evaluating existing professional learning.

• Recommendations for micro-credentials, competencies, and PD ROI measurement.

• Examples of previous capacity-building engagements.

9. School Climate & Inclusion (Score 35)

Vendor must describe:

• Frameworks for assessing climate, belonging, safety, and discipline.

• Data collection methods (surveys, focus groups, statistical analysis).

• Experience designing climate improvement recommendations.

10. Data Integration, Quality & Governance (Score 15)

• Data governance framework (metadata, dictionaries, quality protocols).

• ETL / integration process and tools.

• Ability to create reproducible analytics.

11. Transparent Communications & Public Reporting (Score 15)

Vendor must describe:

• Examples of public dashboards, infographics, and multilingual reporting.

• Approach to communicating sensitive equity findings.

• Experience with public-facing communication in school districts.

12. Cost & Value (Score 25)

Vendor must provide:

• Detailed pricing (rates, labor categories, estimated hours).

• Tools/platform costs.

• Optional/value-add services.

• Clear not-to-exceed pricing aligned to deliverables.

• Proposed payment milestones.