EQUITY COMMUNITIES
OF PRACTICE

A key to student success is promoting an inclusive school culture that engages and draws on the assets of students, families, and staff. Our Equity Community of Practice (ECoP) framework focuses on identifying inequities in the educational system to ensure the highest outcomes for ALL students.

Our approach creates opportunities for affinity groups of educational partners (students, staff, or parents) to identify, research, and analyze quantitative and qualitative data within their district/school system and offer data-informed recommendations to leadership. It also provides traditionally underserved communities “voice and agency.”

WHAT TO EXPECT

Using data and exploration, the Equity Community of Practice team addresses educational inequities through a cycle of inquiry and makes recommendations to their district/school leadership. Equity Communities of Practice members can expect to engage in the following:

Hands-on Training (in-person | 1 day)

Members are trained on the meaning and definition of equity and how to incorporate it in their respective school/district setting. They also learn approaches to effective and compassionate communication and engage in self-reflection and growth.

Coaching Sessions (in-person/virtual | 2.5 days)

Members identify equity-related areas of focus. They set priorities, raise awareness by engaging in intentional communication, and take purposeful action by collecting and analyzing data through cycles of inquiry.

District/School Leadership Presentation (in-person | 1 day)

Members of the Equity Communities of Practice present their findings and recommendations for improvement to the site and district leadership.

OUTCOME SAMPLES

Upon initial review of school climate and discipline data by demographics, groups (in this case student groups) identify equity areas of focus (academics, discipline, school culture, and engagement).

Here are examples of focus areas and solutions that student groups at three different schools we collaborated with decided to address. They presented the results of their research, findings, and solutions to their respective school and district leadership.

Focus Area: Accessibility and inclusivity of diverse cultures and specifically multi-lingual learners

Solutions:

A campaign highlighting/advertising the EL Task Force offered and their bootcamps
Increase translated material on campus
Primary language buddy system
Increase exposure to cultural activities

1

Focus Area: Strengthening staff and student relationships

Solutions:

Staff/Student connection circles
- Improving relationships through circles
- Use Link Crew as a model
- Bridging the Gap

2

Focus Area: Improving behavior and relationships

Solutions:

Student Advocacy Center
- Pilot 1-2 class periods next school year under the peer mentoring elective (training student advocates in the fall and starting in the spring).

3

KEY BENEFITS

Provides members the opportunity to review and analyze policies, practices, attitudes, and cultural messages that reinforce inequitable outcomes for students

Encourages members to build relationships of trust, mutual respect, compassion, and commitment necessary for a strong community

Encourages conversations about equity and social justice

Guides members to take strategic, intentional action as a community

Provides traditionally underserved communities “voice and agency”

Helps to foster a safe, equitable, and healthy school environment

LEARN WHAT PARTNERING WITH US LOOKS LIKE

Learn More Here

“These training sessions were highly valuable for our school. We were able to collaborate and talk about the hard stuff. We talked about the things we weren't proud of that need improvement. We now have an action plan and can't wait to get started! I wish we didn't have a two month gap between the training sessions. I am ready to put our new knowledge to work!”

Karli D., 3rd Grade Teacher, Mountain View Elementary, Shelton SD (WA)