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As an extension of the access and equity efforts the School District has undertaken for the past several years, we are committed to addressing racism and social injustice in our schools through actionable steps. These actions build upon the tenets of our Equity Commitment and Beliefs:
Equity Commitment
Beliefs
This Equity Action Plan consists of short- and long-term goals and accepts that this work is ongoing and never finished. This plan and subsequent progress in addressing the goals of this plan will be regularly communicated to the community and made available on the District website.
Community Outreach and Involvement
The District will actively pursue opportunities to get into our communities of color and other minoritized groups and to engage them further into the school community. As part of this effort, the district will expand efforts to translate important documents into the primary languages spoken in the homes of our students. [This is also a CARES goal.]
Students for Change
The middle and high school administration will meet regularly with a minoritized student group to solicit input and feedback regarding student and staff behaviors, disciplinary responses, visible and invisible inequities, and efforts to address identified inequities. [This is also a CARES goal.]
Parents (Equity Committee)
The district will form an equity committee of minoritized parent and allies to solicit input and feedback regarding inequities and efforts to addressed identified inequities. This group will meet regularly to discuss data, share stories, and monitor equity progress in the District. [This is also a CARES goal.]
Support for Students Beyond the School
Centennial staff and student leaders have begun and will continue to provide support to minoritzed parents and students in the community. This support includes such things as non-school-hour tutoring, technology training, and enrichment activities offered at locations that make these opportunities convenient for these families.
The District’s Community Education Department offers a wide variety of programming, including Summer Fun, Teen Force, and Family Nights. They also provide homework help and English Language Learning (ELL) classes in the community and educational opportunities addressing such topics as ethnic and cultural diversity and racism. Through grant funding, Early Childhood Family Education staff provide outreach and support to preschool aged children who otherwise may not schedule and attend early childhood screenings.
Financial Support for Qualifying Families: In addition to the Federal Free or Reduced-Price Lunch program for qualifying students, the district works with private donators and county/state programs to help families with financial hardship.
Policy Review
As part of their annual review of School District Policies, District Administration will a review of policies that for evidence of inequities.
Equity Commitment and Beliefs
The District will hold its equity commitment and related beliefs at the center of decisions that impact students and families. This commitment, related resources, and this equity plan will be posted on the district website.
Curriculum
All students deserve to see positive representations of themselves and others in what they read, see, and hear. (This work is ongoing.)
Professional Development
Diversity Calendar
Schools will celebrate diversity through messaging, programming, presentations, and visual displays.
Visual Statements
Student Advocacy
All students deserve equal treatment and respect.
Documentation of Racial/Bullying Incidents
Grow Your Own (Pathway Grant)
Centennial, along with our seven Minnesota Education Partnership (MEP) school districts and our partner university, Minnesota State University Mankato (MSUM) School of Education, was awarded a Grow Your Own (GYO) Path Two grant for the 2020-21 school year. The intent of this program is to allow selected school districts to encourage secondary school students to pursue teaching as a career, with a particular emphasis on recruiting student candidates of color and American Indian students to participate in the GYO new teacher programs. Students participating in this program will work with a team of secondary and college level faculty to complete education courses through MSUM.
*CARES (Community Advocates for Racial Equity in our Schools) is a grassroots group of parents and community members from ISD 12 whose mission includes addressing equity concerns and issues in Centennial schools and the community.