Promoting Equity in Schools

This past July, two representatives from each of the five schools across the country participating in SchoolWorks’ Advancing Equity Cohort traveled to Boston and participated in a full day, interactive workshop. Led by SchoolWorks’ Betty Dao-Ivey, Dr. Sean Larry Stevens, and Lyn Bajaj, the AEC participants continued developing their Equity Action Plans, which include:

• Solidifying each school’s renewed mission and vision statements with clearly entrenched equity values.
• Creating annual schoolwide goals with progress monitoring benchmarks to keep their school teams on track.
• Developing tools like professional development plans and communication plans to support overall implementation of the Equity Action Plan.

Additionally, the group shared resources and explored best practices and insights to support their DEI goals.

At the close of the workshop, the SchoolWorks facilitators gathered anonymous feedback from the AEC participants on the year-long initiative’s progress so far. 

Here are a few statements from the AEC:

• “This fast-paced but methodical way of guiding us through the process definitely challenged my thinking around what really needs to be prioritized for the benefit of our students.”
• “I appreciate that the session provided the time and expert guidance as we worked through an existing task. This work and support is very timely, relevant, and helpful.”
• “I enjoyed that we had the opportunity to hear what other schools are doing and how we may partner in the future.”

This fall, participants will focus on building authentic investment into their initiatives by gathering meaningful engagement from key stakeholders in their school communities. Additionally, they will identify any current challenges or barriers to implementing the Equity Action Plan, so they can begin problem-solving those issues with their colleagues.

The SchoolWorks team applauds the AEC participants for dedicating their time, energy, and incredible thought partnership to the continuation and development of this important work.
Stay tuned for our winter update, coming soon!

Share and Learn with the AEC

If you’re a school leader, SchoolWorks invites you to complete our free Equity Assessment Survey.  Based on SchoolWorks’ Equity Audit Protocol, the survey is designed to help you think through the effectiveness of your current systems, policies, and processes in providing an equitable learning environment for all students.

How Does Your School Compare? 

To view the insights and feedback we have collected to date (and consider your school in comparison), check out our Equity Assessment Response Dashboard.

Let’s keep growing & learning!

For information on SchoolWorks equity-focused supports, please reach out to us at info@schoolworks.org.