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Community Focus Team Recommendations on closing the education learning opportunites gap (resolution agreement with Office of Civil Rights)

 Impact Lvl 1: Children & Youth ; Diversity and Inclusion ; Education
Last modified: September 09, 2016

Contents

Highlights

4 main areas to make progress toward education equity.

Contents

4 main areas to make progress toward education equity

1. Early identification of gifted and talented students

2. College and career readiness

3. Parent and family involvement

4. Professional development

 

PB Article

But one of the biggest moves was to commission a "community focus team," a group of community members to make recommendations as well. In four main areas, here's what they want to do:

1. Early identification of gifted and talented students

Previously, only CogAT scores, or cognitive ability scores, were used to identify gifted students, but the team suggested the district take more than one approach to identify students from a broader pool.

The district will also consider NWEA scores for students who score in the 95th percentile. Students can also create a qualifying portfolio at their school, where specialists will be available to work with them. Teachers can also recommend students complete those portfolios.

They will now be able to be identified more often as well, Assistant Superintendent Brenda Lewis said. The district is working with a consultant, Scott Peters, to "evolve the gifted programming model as well as identification process of students, particularly those from low-income or underrepresented groups."

The end goal, Lewis said, is to have students enrolled in the programs proportionate to their population in the school — which is not currently the case for black and brown students.

Lewis said the district has to market its gifted and talented opportunities, and make sure families know that they are available, but the other part, she said, is making students feel like they belong in the classes and that they'll be successful.

"I think we still have more work to do, but we have broadened from previous ways our students were identified," she said.

2. College and career readiness

Advancement via Individual Determination, or AVID, is a training program for educators that focuses on preparing students for college and career readiness.

It teaches specific behaviors and skills for academic success, with a strong focus on teacher and student relationships. It also sets students up with a "positive peer group" they can rely on.

RPS will send a team of educators to the national AVID conference in Texas in December, and the district plans to start implementation in a few sites next school year.

3. Parent and family involvement

The district is working with equity specialists to learn parents' needs in order to create a parent academy that will support the school in its effort to turn discipline numbers around.

Currently, parents are being surveyed so that the district can develop a program tailored to their needs.

One key area of focus for the district is the marketing of AP and honors classes. The community focus team is actively working with activities directors to broaden recognition for participation in these classes at public events, so that they're more appealing to students.

4. Professional development

RPS brought in a number of consultants, including Anthony Muhammad and Luis Cruz, who will make another visit to tailor the training to each school in the district. The district has plans to bring in more consultants to address topics such as historical trauma and possible staff biases.

Lewis said the district is also considering schools' curriculum, in an effort to make it more representative of students of color.

"I think that's the biggest set of work we will embark upon," she said.

 

RPS Slide Deck

 

 

 

  

 

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