Equity and Inclusion
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- Chandler Unified School District
- Equity and Inclusion Roadmap (accessible version)
Equity Road Map
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OUR MISSION
To empower all students with the knowledge, skills and attitude necessary to excel in college, career and life.
OUR VISION
Chandler Unified School District is a safe and productive environment where students and adults are engaged in meaningful learning. Our diverse population is a strength, and a spirit of equity, collaboration and respect permeates our community.
OUR VALUES
- Excellence
- Integrity
- Equity
- Collaboration
- Efficiency
Providing equitable educational opportunities in a safe and inclusive learning environment
PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS
- Institutional Design
The core values of the school district articulate the vision of educational equity and appropriate policies and practices are advocated across the district. - Individual Contribution
Employees and volunteers demonstrate the awareness, understanding, knowledge and skills to effectively interact with individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds and cultural experiences. - Instructional Practices
The materials, strategies and activities are research- based and encompass a variety of backgrounds and life experiences in order to connect with a diverse student population.
Strategies, Action Steps and Pathways
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Strategy: A. Create avenues for student input
Action Steps / Pathways:
- Conduct exit surveys with seniors or post grad. / Institutional
- Involve students in creating a community of respect and inclusion. / Institutional
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Strategy: B. Engage stakeholders (parents, business, city, and residents) to educate and leverage resources to meet J2025 equity goals
Action Steps / Pathways:
- Create Equity Advisory Board to provide input to District Equity team. / Institutional
- Gather information from specific subgroups who have been historically marginalized, or are under performing academically, and use feedback to inform action steps. / Institutional
- Increase collaboration with parents on meaningful academic engagement and available resources. / Institutional and Instructional
- Offer learning opportunities for staff and community through Lecture and Film series. / Institutional, Individual and Instructional
- Partner with businesses, higher education, City of Chandler to address needs of students and families. / Institutional
- Provide topical parent education. / Institutional
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Strategy: C. Establish an equity focus at the Governing Board and Superintendence Level
Action Steps / Pathways:
- Communicate and articulate a message of equity and inclusion from Superintendent and Governing Board. / Institutional
- Measure student success by multiple subgroups. / Institutional and Instructional
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Strategy: D. Establish safe, inclusive learning environments
Action Steps / Pathways:
- Develop educational alternatives to discipline. Explore principles of restorative practice and pilot for effectiveness. / Institutional and Instructional
- Establish a focus on welcoming classroom meetings (K-6). / Institutional and Instructional
- Implement positive behavior management as part of the classroom and school culture. / Institutional and Instructional
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Strategy: E. Examine all district operations through an equity lens
Action Steps / Pathways:
- Adopt a district-wide decision-making protocol with an equity lens and embed in the organizational culture / Institutional
- Who are the under-represented groups affected by this policy, program, practice or decision? What are the potential impacts on these groups?
- Does this policy, program, practice or decision worsen existing disparities or produce other unintended consequences?
- How have you intentionally involved stakeholders who are also members of the communities affected by this policy, program, practice or decision?
- What are the barriers to more equitable outcomes?
- How will you (a) mitigate the negative impacts and (b) address the barriers identified above?
- Allocate resources to best meet the diverse needs of students. / Institutional and Instructional
- Utilize data from equity metrics in instructional decision making. / Institutional and Instructional
- Utilize data from perceptions surveys to improve the culture of inclusion. / Institutional and Instructional
- Adopt a district-wide decision-making protocol with an equity lens and embed in the organizational culture / Institutional
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Strategy: F. Identify and improve gaps in access for specific students and student groups
Action Steps / Pathways:
- Allow open access for non-sequential courses, e.g. math. / Institutional and Instructional
- Assess students for access to gifted and honors programs with multiple measures. / Institutional and Instructional
- Create student and parent-friendly videos in home languages. / Institutional and Instructional
- Host students and parents to promote college and career opportunities and ensure access to a variety of scholarship opportunities for all students. / Institutional and Instructional
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Strategy: G. Implement culturally responsive instructional practices
Action Steps / Pathways:
- Integrate future ready competencies throughout learning. / Institutional and Instructional
- Utilize curriculum and materials that encompass a wide variety of backgrounds and cultural experiences and meet state standards as required.. / Institutional and Instructional
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Strategy: H. Measure and improve student and employee climate perception
Action Steps / Pathways:
- Conduct Employee Perception Surveys annually and analyze results for continuous improvement.. / Institutional and Individual
- Conduct Student Perception Survey annually and analyze results for continuous improvement (Grades 4 -12). / Institutional and Instructional
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Strategy: I. Provide interventions to eliminate gaps
Action Steps / Pathways:
- Implement comprehensive Multi-Tiered System Support (MTSS). / Institutional and Instructional
- Offer multiple preschools for early intervention. / Institutional and Instructional
- Offer summer and intersession programs. / Institutional and Instructional
- Review data annually for continuous improvement in alternate environments. / Institutional and Instructional
- Use Student Success Indicator report to drive ongoing intervention. / Institutional and Instructional
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Strategy: J. Provide ongoing professional development to build cultural responsiveness
Action Steps / Pathways:
- Create learning modules to increase knowledge and skills working with diverse individuals and groups, including but not limited to, abilities, ethnicity, gender identification, gender orientation (LBGTQ+), nationality, race, religion and socioeconomic status. / Institutional, Individual and Instructional
- Develop Equitable Classroom Practices training. Provide for all certified and administrative staff and embed in onboarding process going forward. / Institutional, Individual and Instructional
- Embed an equity focus in site and district-led professional development. / Institutional, Individual and Instructional
- Embed core values and best practices for a culture of inclusion in all onboarding and induction programs for employees and volunteers. / Institutional, Individual and Instructional
- Evaluate non-instructional employees related to their ability to work across diverse cultures and backgrounds. / Institutional and Individual
- Evaluate site administration related to their ability to provide a safe and culturally responsive environment, celebrate diversity, and promote equity. / Institutional, Individual and Instructional
- Evaluate teachers related to their ability to provide a safe and culturally responsive environment, celebrate diversity, and promote equity. / Institutional, Individual and Instructional
- Host annual Equity Symposium. / Institutional, Individual and Instructional
- Provide professional development, e.g. social emotional cognitive learning, suicide prevention, trauma, growth mindset, welcoming office. / Institutional, Individual and Instructional
- Provide training on data-driven decisions to principals. / Institutional, Individual and Instructional
- Utilize online learning systems to deliver staff professional development and make content available upon demand. / Institutional, Individual and Instructional
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Strategy: K. Recruit and retain a diverse, culturally responsive workforce
Action Steps / Pathways:
- Create interview and selection processes to guard against bias and promote the employment of a diverse, culturally responsive workforce. / Institutional and Individual
- Create opportunities for voluntary Employee Resource Groups to bring together employees with common interests and contribute to a culture of inclusion. / Institutional and Individual
- Develop a long-term plan to diversify the workforce. / Institutional and Individual
- Expand Grow Your Own Teacher program. / Institutional and Individual
- Foster cultural ambassadors to provide diverse role models for students. / Institutional and Individual
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Strategy: L. Train and utilize equity teams at the district and site level to promote and sustain an equity focus
Action Steps / Pathways:
- Establish and sustain a District equity team to guide equity efforts. / Institutional
- Establish and sustain a principal equity team to serve as a resource and support. / Institutional
- Establish and sustain an equity team for each school to serve as a resource and champion for equitable outcomes for students. / Institutional
