The most ambitious vision for equity assessment is equity scoring (quantitative estimates, not necessarily a scorecard). Alongside the mandatory and codified practice of budget scoring that already disaggregates most estimates by income groups, equity scoring would be embedded in the legislative process, where estimates of improvements disaggregated by job, geography, housing, disability, race, or gender would inform policymakers, legislative staff, advocates, communities, and members of the public. This long-term vision requires a replicable and scalable equity scoring methodology so the field can build capacity, confidence, and legitimacy.

Benefiting from the past two years of practice, the team developed a high-level methodology for equity scoring that is applicable across policy topics and areas. The methodology focuses on policy proposals that legislators have enacted or could consider for a vote and is intended to be a resource to the field and to ignite ideas among those driving its technical development.

Here’s a checklist of questions to shape an equity assessment on the path to creating a People’s Score:

Questions to Shape an Equity Assessment and Create a People’s Score