PCSD Equity and Inclusion Goals for the 2021-2022 School Year
As part of its commitment to equity and inclusion for all students, a District leadership team participated in an intensive summer workshop to create Equity and Inclusion Goals for 2021-22. The leadership team included a diverse representation of stakeholder groups, including parents, teachers, administrators, community leaders, and board of education members. In the process of creating the updated goals, the group focused on the “why” behind the District’s equity work and used a number of resources, including the District Equity Policy, NYS Call to Action, Culturally Responsive and Sustaining Education Framework, Inclusivity Advisory Committee (IAC) Success Statement, and the District mission, vision and values.
Among the goals already completed is the production of a “Culturally Competent Interview Committee” video to train interview committees on how to conduct culturally competent job searches and interviews. Public information campaigns about how to request American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters for District meetings and how to use Google Translate to access the District website in over 100 languages were also launched at the beginning of the school year.
Other equity and inclusion goals include actions aimed at improving and increasing student voice, creating opportunities for two-way dialogue, building welcoming and affirming environments, increasing the hiring and retention of diverse teachers, using existing structures and data to inform decisions and identify barriers to equity for curricular and non-curricular learning experiences, ensuring curriculums and resources represent diversity, and implementing NYS Social Emotional Learning (SEL) benchmarks into all new/revised curriculum.
To view the complete list of goals for 2021-2022, with associated timelines and persons responsible for carrying out those goals, visit PCSD Equity Goals - July 2021.pdf (pittsfordschools.org).