Equitable Practice Goals

School Climate and Culture

Expand access and engagement of students in educational and extracurricular programs with the goal of improving belonging data for all subgroups of students, with emphasis on those who have reported the lowest belonging results across surveys over the last four years.

Areas of Specific Focus

• Analyze patterns and trends in course enrollment and extracurricular participation to determine and mitigate any barriers that exist in students accessing high level and engaging learning opportunities.
• Identify trends in district and school-based belonging surveys and student groups over the past four years to implement strategies for growth in meeting the needs of all students and families to feel welcome, safe and supported at school. 
• Design K12 opportunities for field trips, in order to ensure that all students are exposed to and educated about the richness of our local, regional, and national history and the contributions of many cultures and communities to our nation.

Recommended Practices for Reinforcement

• Maintain regular meetings with groups of students and families, who provide feedback and input into our practices, policies and programs.
• Continue the administration of student belonging surveys annually and ensure that they coincide with annual family surveys. 
• Disaggregate data at the district and building level to make informed instructional and programmatic decisions.

Professional Development

Faculty will utilize research-based strategies that have the greatest impact on student achievement and belonging, as defined by PDE’s Common Ground Framework.

Areas of Specific Focus

• Train all staff on PDE’s Common Ground Framework in order to provide all learners with equitable and differentiated opportunities to learn and succeed. 
• Collaborate with families and communities through authentic engagement practices.
• Promote trauma-informed classroom practices in order to develop and strengthen student resiliency.

Recommended Practices for Reinforcement

• Disaggregate data at the district and building level to make informed instructional and programmatic decisions.
• Continue the district’s commitment to recruiting and retaining a highly qualified workforce that possess the necessary skills to meet the needs of a diverse community of learners. 

Student Achievement

Utilizing intervention periods across our schools, raise the achievement level of students on standardized assessments using strategies promoted through PDE’s Common Ground Framework.

Areas of Specific Focus

• Raise the achievement level of students with socio-economic needs on standardized assessments by improving daily attendance rates for this subgroup.
• Strengthen multi-tiered processes and systems of support (MTSS).
• Reinforce high expectations for each learner and treat them as capable and deserving of achieving success. 

Recommended Practices for Reinforcement

• Embed equitable practices into building-based professional development and induction sessions.
• Continue the district’s commitment to recruiting and retaining a highly qualified workforce that possess the necessary skills to meet the needs of a diverse community of learners. 
• Reaffirm the district’s Equity Vision Statement.

Accessibility and Inclusivity

Strengthen and promote pathways to post-secondary programs for all students that uplift and affirm the array of opportunities available from elementary through high school using PDE’s Career Readiness Standards and SDST’s Profile of a Graduate.

Areas of Specific Focus

• Promote the visibility and engagement of students with disabilities in the school community.
• Strengthen and expand exposure to career pathways through programs and experiences that provide opportunities for all students to explore their assets.
• Ensure that PDE’s Career Readiness Standards are aligned to the development of skills articulated in our district Profile of a Graduate. 

Recommended Practices for Reinforcement

• Integrate the Career Readiness Benchmark and Profile of a Graduate skills at the district and building level to make informed instructional and programmatic decisions that support these goals.
• Utilize multiple forms of communication for clubs, activities, and athletics to promote broad student awareness and participation.
• Continue the district’s commitment to recruiting and retaining a highly qualified workforce that possess the necessary skills to meet the needs of a diverse community of learners.