Educational Equity

Introduction

The Thompson School District (TSD) Board of Education annually reviews student outcome data that shows ongoing disparities in reading, math, behavior, and graduation. They felt a sense of urgency to address these identified concerns.

In September 2019, Dr. Schaffer asked the Director of Language, Culture, and Equity to create an Educational Equity Policy for the district. The Director and colleagues worked closely with the TSD Community and the Board of Education to build a common language and understanding of equity, and to uncover their desires and commitments as stakeholders to address equity across the TSD system.

The Educational Equity Policy was developed from the stakeholder input. The policy included guidance for the Educational Equity Framework.

The Equity Framework defines the infrastructure for active implementation in the Thompson School District. It consists of a description of the History and Background of this innovative plan, District Commitment, Equity Beliefs, and the five-year TSD Educational Equity Implementation Plan.

Inclusive Family/Guardian and Community Input

If we actively involve students, families, staff, and community members that reflect our student body, then we will honor the diverse perspectives and funds of knowledge in our decision-making.

Multilingual Communication

If we provide school and district communications in the home language of TSD families, then we will honor diversity and increase access to our programs and activities to each of our students.

Culturally Competent and Diverse Staff

If we engage in active recruitment, employment, support, and retention of culturally competent and diverse staff we will model a respect for diversity and increase positive intercultural communication and heighten access to learning.

Professional Learning for Equity

If we build the capacity of the TSD community to demonstrate culturally relevant pedagogy and equitable practices, then we will bring about the conditions and skill sets needed to ensure educational benefit to each of our students.

Equitable Resource Allocation

If we allocate resources equitably, then we will narrow opportunity gaps based in fee structures and increase access and opportunity for both staff and students.

Implementation Timeline

July 2019 – March 2020
TSD Community Stakeholder Input on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Spring 2020
Collaboratively write TSD Educational Equity Policy ADB

Fall 2020
Collaboratively create the Equity Framework

May – June 2021
TSD Community Stakeholder input at Board of Education

TSD Community Input
TSD Student Input

Spring 2022
TSD Equity Implementation Planning Committees

March 2022
TSD Equity Implementation Open House

2022-23 School Year
TSD Implementation Plan Year 1 Created by Superintendent's Cabinet

“Educational equity” means a commitment to ensure that each student receives what they need to succeed (Blankstein & Noguera, 2015) by:

raising the learning outcomes of all students while improving the performance of historically marginalized students;
eliminating the disproportionality of which student groups occupy the highest and lowest achievement categories, including rates of graduation, by eliminating barriers to access and opportunity.

Student Data through an Equity Lens

Data shared here demonstrates some of the equity data stories in TSD. Achieving educational equity would mean that EACH child graduates from high school on time and would be reading, writing, and engaging in accurate numeracy by third grade and throughout their time as a student. Graduation rates by race and by student group show the disparate outcomes between students. i-Ready scores show the disparities among students based on their race and ethnicity who are mid- or above grade level, early on grade level, or one to three grade levels below their peers in Literacy.

On-Time Graduation Rates

By School

By Race

By Student Group

Relative Literacy Achievement and Growth

By Race

By Hispanic or Latino

By Multilingual Learner

By Special Education