All in for Equity!

In business, equity means assets minus liabilities. In education, equity means access and opportunities.

The same word, but two different meanings.

Many times, when we hear the word equity in the educational setting, our minds may focus on race or ethnicity. While racial equity is a large component of the challenges we face, equity issues related to poverty, privilege, curriculum access, academic programs and behavioral supports must be addressed at a systemic level.

To that end, the City School District of Albany Board of Education has adopted an Equity in Education Policy (visit our Equity in Education section for more information). The new policy is about providing pathways for each student to be prepared to access the myriad opportunities that may facilitate success.

It is a blueprint of what the district needs to do so that the barriers preventing students from reaching their potential in school are removed.

The new Equity in Education Policy sets forth specific steps that the district will take to reduce systemic disparities that have impacted the success of minority students and students with disabilities.

The district is engaging in a multi-year process of providing all faculty, support staff and administrators with professional development in research-based, culturally relevant practices that consider students’ cultural backgrounds in our educational interactions and guide the practice of formulating our teaching and learning plans.

As educators, we have a responsibility to overcome our own biases and ensure our interactions with students and families promote caring relationships and engaging learning experiences that positively shape students’ lives and affect their ability to learn.

Our district engages in ongoing professional development to enhance our emphasis on culturally responsive teaching and learning. Over the past three years, we have analyzed our discipline procedures and practices, and completed internal and external evaluations, to monitor our progress to closing the achievement and behavioral gaps among our students.

Enhancing our educational structure and emphasizing equitable practices throughout our system is a shared responsibility that includes all stakeholders.

I am confident that our collective will to tackle the difficult issues embedded in our society will allow us to achieve our vision: to be a district of excellence with caring relationships and engaging learning experiences that provide equitable opportunities for all students to reach their potential.

Please join me in being All in for Equity, because together, we are All in for Albany!