How did we develop this plan?

The district’s Equity Action Plan (EAP) was developed in 2018 through extensive work with multiple stakeholders, including students, parents, staff, and the Equity Advisory Council. The plan attempts to eliminate predictable patterns of academic achievement based on subgroup membership by focusing on three primary areas of improvement.

1. Normalize Racial Equity 

To normalize racial equity, educators and staff must develop cultural humility i.e.:

• the ability to recognize how their ethnocentrism and cultural backgrounds shape their work with students whose backgrounds differ from theirs; 

• an understanding of the broader context of society; and 

• a willingness and ability to use strategies of anti-racism and cultural competence.

CSD Students will work to develop similar competencies.

Specifically, CSD is building our capacity to Normalize by engaging our district in Courageous Conversations, promoting racial and cross-racial affinity groups for staff and students, and conducting cross-district study circles and professional development that promote racial awareness and healing.

2. Organize District Infrastructure

To organize district infrastructure for racial equity; CSD expects that our educators will: 

• work from an inclusive, understanding, accepting, and nurturing position with respect to student culture, 

• set high expectations, 

• build an inclusive school community, 

• recognize that many aspects of curriculum and instruction are historically based in Eurocentric principles and content, and

• build the organizational capacity, skills, and competencies to decolonize curriculum and praxis, diversifying content to perpetuate a just, humane, and democratic society that enables all students to be safe, seen, and successful. 

Specifically, CSD is organizing by building the capacity for culturally responsive teaching, developing our educators’ abilities to implement culturally relevant and culturally responsive teaching practices; and, holding educators accountable for their actions, development, and outcomes.

3. Operationalize Equitable Policy and Procedures 

In operationalizing equitable, high-leverage policy and procedures, CSD has determined that our key areas of focus will be:

• equitable and accountable policies and practices of our education system and 

• appropriate resource allocation.

Specifically, CSD is implementing restorative practices to encourage equitable disciplinary outcomes, strengthening recruitment and retention efforts to increase and retain staff members with diverse backgrounds across all roles, consistently reviewing and revising school, district, and board practices and procedures to ensure equitable outcomes, and reaching out to caretakers and community in order to cultivate inclusivity and improve student outcomes. 

If you have questions about the plan, contact our Equity Director, Dr. Mari Ann Banks.