Shoreline School District aims for Equity

Source: City of Portland, OR

By Marianne Deal Stephens

At the June 1st Shoreline School Board Meeting, Executive Director of Schools Brian Schultz presented the report from the Shoreline District Equity Committee which has been meeting over the school year.

For much of the year, the District undertook a self-inventory process which “was designed to support your district in taking a deep look at current organizational and system infrastructures with the intent of identifying systemic barriers and gaps that can be addressed to reduce inequalities in student outcomes and increase equity and opportunities for academic success” (Shoreline Public Schools Equity Profile 2015, p. 1).

Director Schultz praised the group — which consisted of counselors, family advocates, teachers, administrators, staff, parents, a community member, and a student— saying that they had all learned to see issues through different lenses.

Source: Shoreline School District

The Puget Sound Educational Service District (PSESD) oversaw this work, and created four key dimensions to synthesize the data and help Shoreline plan for equity. The four key dimensions are: Equity Policies and Plans; Leadership for Equity; Access to Programs and Services; and System Supports for Equity. Though changes will take time, the District will adopt the PSESD’s guiding recommendations for the 2015-16 school year.

Source: Shoreline School District

Starting this fall, the district will: establish an Equity Advisory Committee; create a position for Director of District Equity; incorporate new goals and standards in policies, processes, and policy; and work to embed the principles in school district matters.

Efforts will extend into professional development, data collection, language services, assessment, and many other aspects of district operation. Regarding access to programs, the committee issued the following recommendations: 

Source: Shoreline School District

Director Schultz emphasized that the district intends to be research-based and to implement changes that are measurable. The administration wants new families and those in transition to feel welcome and will look at the Family Friendly Schools process.

For more details on the District Equity Committee’s Recommendations, see Director Schultz’s report and the PSESD’s Profile on pages 115-143 of the June 1 Agenda packet