2020-2021 EQUITY ACTION PLAN
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
- We will raise the achievement of all students while eliminating the predictability of academic achievement based upon class, race, gender, or disability.
- We will implement culturally responsive teaching and leadership practices that reflect the contributions and perspectives of all people.
- We will identify and address barriers that perpetuate opportunity and achievement gaps.
- We will foster inclusive relationships across all Centennial communities.
Beliefs
- We believe that all voices have value.
- We believe that mutual relationships build safe and engaging communities.
- We believe that each person has agency and power.
- We believe that opportunities to learn, lead, and collaborate unleash potential.
- We believe that life demands critical thinking and problem solving.
- We believe that challenge is foundational to growth.
- We believe that personalizing learning creates engagement and ownership.
- We believe that reflection on data creates a drive for improvement.
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.
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.
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. Staff will continue to examine instructional materials to ensure authors, speakers, leaders of diverse cultures are included in the repertoire. The District Equity Coordinator (once hired) will be a part of all curriculum review efforts.
Professional Development
Training specific to culturally responsive teaching practices will be ongoing and related practices will be used by all staff. This training will include, but not limited to topics of community interaction, racial/ethnic diversity and equity, implicit bias, power of voice, microaggressions, and privilege.
- The Department of Teaching and Learning along with the District Equity Coordinator (once hired) and School Administrators will develop tools to measure the impact of training on students. Adjustments will be made as indicated by these assessments.
- The Activities Director will conduct annual training for all personnel working with youth, including training specific to equity and anti-racism.
Diversity Calendar
Schools will celebrate diversity through messaging, programming, presentations, and visual displays.
- Schools will recognize and celebrate ethnic/racial/cultural diversity (e.g. Black History Month, Indigenous People’s Day, Global Diversity Awareness Month, etc.)
Visual Statements
- Visual recognition of minority leaders, voices for change, and messages of acceptance will be prominently displayed in each school
- Respect and appreciation of human differences will be emphasized and celebrated
Student Advocacy
All students deserve equal treatment and respect.
- The district will advocate and actively support the rights of all students to feel safe and welcomed in all aspects of their schooling experience
- The consequences for bullying or harassing behavior will be clearly communicated, including those behaviors related to race, gender, or ethnicity. (Centennial School District Policy #413)
- Staff will courageously and without hesitation confront incidences of bullying, harassment (e.g. taunting, slurs, gestures, innuendos). Such behaviors will be documented by staff.
- Staff will strongly encourage students to confront and report derogatory and disrespecting behaviors.
- Harassment of any nature is unacceptable and are taken seriously, including investigations and follow-ups after an incident.
Documentation of Racial/Bullying Incidents
- District Staff will annually review Centennial District Policy #514: Bullying Prohibition Policy and be reminded of their responsibilities to respond to and document any all incidences of bullying as described in this policy, including, but not limited to racial slurs and microaggressions.
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.