Accountability is often viewed as the antithesis to improvement; the culprit undermining efforts of a network to build or maintain greater collective impact. However, accountability in practice doesn't have to live up to its dirty reputation. Instead, when partnered with improvement practices, accountability can empower a network to become the vehicle that cracks the ice of change resistance in a system. Improvement networks, aligned with a clear equity aim are powerful tools to achieve sustained improvement. Presenters from MFEI will speak directly to the questions of how collective impact initiatives can best embrace an equity agenda and how to build productive partnerships on a solid foundation of professionalism and supportive accountability. The presentation will share lessons on how the conditions, tools and practices that supported the impact of the East Bay College Access Network saw a low-income, urban school district defy national trends in college financial aid completion rates.

Learning Objectives: 

1. Identify when and how supportive accountability can be engaged as a meaningful tactic for systemic change alongside improvement science without compromising a focus on equity and improved outcomes.
2. Reflect on the barriers to racial and socioeconomic equity in their own districts or school settings and consider how existing or potential networks can utilize accountability practices in conjunction with improvement practices to address those barriers.