Equity in Education
The City School District of Albany is committed to assuring equitable opportunities and learning experiences for all of our students.
This commitment is prominent in our guiding principles, including vision and mission statements that emphasize equity in our service to and partnership with our students, families and community. It also is highlighted in the district’s first Equity in Education Policy, which the board adopted in January 2019.
This section of our website is intended as a resource for all members of our community to learn more about our ongoing work in the areas of equity and culturally responsive teaching and learning, and a reminder that, together, we are “All in for Albany!”
0050 | Equity in Education
The City School District of Albany is committed to the success of every student and to achieving the adopted vision of being a district of excellence, access and opportunity, with caring relationships and engaging learning experiences that provide equitable opportunities for all students to reach their potential.
The District believes that equity is a right, and it is the responsibility of all stakeholders in the District to ensure equitable experiences and outcomes for all students. The District will work in partnership with Albany’s diverse community to engage every learner in a robust educational program designed to provide the knowledge and skills necessary for success.
The District recognizes that the current educational system, along with complex, societal, racial and historical factors create and perpetuate barriers to access and opportunities within the system. This policy requires that district practices and procedures be reviewed based on the established culturally relevant criteria in order to reverse the cycle of systemic disparities that impact student success.
The District will implement research-based educational practices to eliminate racial predictability of student success, disproportionality in behavioral consequences, inequities impacting marginalized and underserved populations, and systemic barriers to opportunities and access. The District will provide a supportive, nurturing learning environment which values student voice, recognizes that a focus on individual student needs is necessary for equitable outcomes, and utilizes the strengths of Albany’s diversity to ensure equitable outcomes.
The District will provide professional development and resources necessary to ensure that all administrators, teachers, support staff, and community partners have access to high quality, culturally relevant research-based strategies to reduce racial and other disparities in measurable outcomes.
The District will develop and monitor:
- an evaluation rubric and accountability standards for measuring success,
- a clear plan and timeline for identifying equity gaps in educational experiences and outcomes,
- an implementation plan for instructional programs, hiring practices, and operational systems that address disparities,
- an ongoing plan for continuous professional development and improvement, and
- a plan that includes student voice and parent/guardian input as an integral part of the decision-making and transformation process.
The implementation of this policy is the shared responsibility of all District stakeholders. The Superintendent shall annually report the progress toward achieving the goals outlined in this policy to the Board of Education, District faculty and staff, District students, families and the community at large.
Ref:
cps-k12.org. (2019). Equity and Excellence in Education. [online] Available at: https://www.cps-k12.org/sites/www.cps-k12.org/files/pdfs/boe-2255-Policy-Equity-andExcellence-in-Education-5-10-2018.pdf.
boepublic.ousd.org. (2019). Equity Policy. [online] Available at: https://boepublic.ousd.org/Policies.aspx].
edmonds.wednet.edu. (2019). Race and Equity. [online] Available at: https://www.edmonds.wednet.edu/UserFiles/Servers/Server_306670/File/About%20Us/School% 20Board%20Policies%20&%20Procedures/Section%200000/0600%20- %20Race%20and%20Equity%20FINAL%2010.24.17.pdf.
seattleschools.org. (2019). Ensuring Educational and Racial Equity. [online] Available at: https://seattleschools.org/UserFiles/Servers/Server_543/File/District/Departments/School%20Bo ard/Policies/Series%200000/0030.pdf.
pps.net. (2019). Racial Educational Equity Policy
cps-k12.org. (2019). Resolution pg. 718. [online] Available at: https://www.cpsk12.org/sites/www.cpsk12.org/files/files/pdfs/boardminutes/102615%20Special%20%26%20Regular%20Meeting%20 without%20student%20names.pdf
Adoption Date: 01-03-19
Equity video series
Resources
The City School District of Albany's Office of Human Resources is dedicated to supporting the district's vision, mission and goals.
We seek employees with:
- A proven track record for connecting with students
- An unwavering commitment that all students can and will learn as a direct result of the teacher’s efforts
- Tremendous growth potential
- We further seek culturally proficient individuals who actively promote the highest levels of achievement for every student
You can learn more about the division's efforts and the demographics of the district's workforce by viewing our annual Human Resources Division Update from the Dec. 3, 2020 Board of Education meeting.
Equity is about empowering all of our students so that after they have finished their time with us, they can self-actualize their own future success. We view our work as bringing us all together in the understanding that educational gaps are our issue.
Toward that goal, we are working to be more conscience of culturally responsive teaching and learning practices.
Confronting bias:
- Ensuring the best candidates are identified to meet our diverse needs
- Building capacity within our schools, capitalizing on the enhanced outcomes achieved by diverse teams
- Increasing student success
- Working toward greater social justice (i.e. increased opportunities for diverse candidates)
We seek employees with:
- A proven track record for connecting with students
- An unwavering commitment that all students can and will learn as a direct result of the teacher’s efforts
- Tremendous growth potential
- We further seek culturally proficient individuals who actively promote the highest levels of achievement for every student
How do we achieve equity in our outcomes:
- Culturally responsive teaching lends to equity
- Welcoming environments for families lend to equity
- Clear communications of complex processes lend to equity
- Fair and consistent disciplinary practices lend to equity
- Access to honors course, or remedial supports lend to equity
- Students being helped to leverage their unique identity lends to equity
- Acknowledging students cultural and heritage lends to equity
- PD to enhance teacher skills lends to equity
Addressing equity calls for changes in:
- Resource allocations
- Expectations and definitions of success
- Learning opportunities
- Measures of accountability
Board of Education updates
- CRE and Equity presentation (Dec. 21, 2023)
- CRE and Equity presentation (Nov. 17, 2022)
- Equity dashboard presentation (Sept. 22, 2022)
- CRE and equity presentation (Jan. 5, 2022)
- Equity Policy and CRE Presentation (Oct. 15, 2020)
- Culturally Responsive Education and Equity Practices Update (Oct. 22, 2019)
- Culturally Responsive Education and Equity Practices (Nov. 1, 2018)
Professional Development
- Presentation: Normalizing Conversations About Race (Jan. 14, 2021)
- Culturally Responsive Education and Teaching Framework (Jan. 14, 2021)
Have questions?
Do you have questions about our Equity in Education work, or are interested in getting involved? If so, please contact:
Superintendent
