The Equity Project

1. The Equity Project Created by: The Equity Committee with the support of the Diversity and Equal Access Executive and Equity Committee Liaison, Nicole Anderson

2. Equity Project Goals • Membership: Increase diversity in ACSA membership and leadership through intentional recruitment, retention, and outreach efforts. • Communication: Increase all members’ awareness of equity and diversity issues that impact historically underserved leaders and students. • Professional Learning: Provide relevant equity leadership training and support for ACSA leaders and members that focuses on building capacity in cultural proficiency as well as all areas of equity and diversity.

3. Special Thanks To Our Pioneers • ACSA Minority Recruitment Task Force • May 1989 • Minority Recruitment Program • Diversity and Equal Educational Opportunity Committee • June 1996 • Student Diversity in California Schools Special Report-position paper • ACSA Diversity Task Force • May 2006 • Diversity Action Plan and Toolkit • Equity, Achievement, and Diversity for Success Committee • June 2002 Position Paper • 2012-2017 SMART Goals/Action Plan

4. The “Equity” Committee

5. Equity Committee Purpose To build the capacity and cultural proficiency of all leaders within the organization and throughout the state of California to effectively eliminate the achievement, access and opportunity gaps that reflects large numbers of underperforming African American and Latino(a) students.

6. Carrying out the purpose: • Identify and research issues related to equity and diversity • Develop strong recruitment and retention policies and practices to grow membership • Recommend policies, practices, and resources which lead to quality instructional/educational programs and services • Assist in the development of programs, resources, and materials to help leaders effectively respond to equity issues • Establish partnerships and communication links • Assist the board in implementing aspects of the association strategic plan

7. SMART Goals/Action Plan • Based on the focus areas of the position paper • Membership/Recruitment • Best Practices • Communications • Professional Learning and Leadership • Standards Based Curriculum and Assessment • Community Engagement and Relationships • Resources and Support

8. Current Equity Services • Equity Focus Groups • Delegate Assembly Equity Leadership Training • Collaboration with CAAASA and CALSA • Recruitment/outreach to diverse leaders • Quarterly Equity and Diversity Update Newsletter • Professional Development • equity strands in workshops conferences, symposium • Leadership Magazine • Equity For All-(Nov/Dec) • Leading for Equity-(Sept/Oct) • Ed Cal Newsletter Highlights/Communication • Monthly Equity Corner by Diversity and Equal Access Executive • www.acsa.org/eads • ACSA TV-equity videos • ACSA blog-”Supporting Diverse Populations” • Diversity Retreat-EADS Committee • Legislative Advocacy Training • Networking Events

9. Registration info. can be found at www.acsa.org/eads

10. Survey says………. • Equity and Access Survey taken by 575 members • ACSA effectively addresses educational equity issues • 58% agreed • ACSA offers the following effective and relevant resources to support equity needs: • Ed Cal Newsletter/Leadership Magazine • Professional Development Services • Legislative Advocacy • ACSA should focus more closely on the following equity issues: • Achievement gap • Ethnic groups (leaders/students) • Cultural proficiency through the credentialing process

11. Upcoming Equity Services • Equity embedded into all PD services • 3 Equity and Diversity Institutes • Mentoring Program • Equity Partnership Group • Equity Toolkit

12. Equity Toolkit • “One Stop Shop” Equity Resource For Members • On ACSA App/EADS website/Handbook • Living document developed in phases • Phase I-May 2015 • Toolkit outcomes/goals • Awareness-addressing our belief systems • Practical steps • Resources

13. Next Steps…….. • EC to inform ACSA Board on Equity Project progress • Monitor membership data • Ongoing equity leadership training • Administer equity and access survey • Collaborate more closely with CAAASA and CALSA • Allocate resources and budget to support the implementation of the Equity Project • Develop equity toolkit-phase II (Oct. 2015)

14. Legislative Advocacy • Important to be aware of current data around our diverse leaders/members in CA • GR department works closely with politicians to focus of “equity” bills • Current Legislative Body • Diverse, youthful, inexperienced, eager for change • Regions are encouraged to connect with local politicians

15. Equity Focus Group Activity

16. Equity Focus Group Outcomes • Receive professional development resources to support facilitation of equity work • Analyze relevant data that presents an equity challenge(s) • Discuss the equity challenge(s) • Discuss next steps for ACSA leaders

17. Current educational Initiatives

18. Quick Write Activity • What is an equity challenge you are facing in your work? • What thoughts & feelings do you have about your role as a leader addressing this equity challenge?

19. Quick Write Activity • Reflect on your experience as a student (K-12) • Positive experiences • Negative experiences • Did you feel that your needs were adequately addressed? • If you could go through the experience again, what would you change about it?

20. Activity:History of PublicEducation

21. Dreams Fulfilled vs. Dreams Deferred

22. US History Fact As you consider the impact of the history of education, what resonates with you about this historical event?

23. 1779: Thomas Jefferson proposes a two-track educational system, with different tracks for (in his words) “the laboring and the learned.” Scholarships would allow a select few of the laboring class to advance by “raking a few geniuses from the rubbish.”

25. Any system produces what it was designed to produce.

26. Focus group question #1 • What is educational equity?

27. ACSA’s Educational Equity Definition “Educational equity provides students access to resources and opportunities based on their individual need to achieve high quality educational outcomes”---ACSA members, 2015 Based on the response of almost 575 ACSA members on the Equity and Access Survey, the following definition was developed.

28. Data Discussion(ethnicity and gender) • ACSA membership • ACSA region/staff/staff leadership • State and region Student Demographics • State and region Administrator Demographics • 3rd grade literacy rates in County

29. Glimpse of Statewide Data

30. Student Demographics

31. 3rd Grade Literacy Rates

32. Focus Group Question #2 • What questions do you have about the data? • What equity challenges does the data reveal? • What equity challenge is most urgent to address?

33. Focus Group Question #3 • What are some possible next steps for addressing this equity challenge? • ACSA Organization • Region Leadership • Charter Leadership • Site/District Leadership

34. Next Steps For Regions…………….. • Create/update Region Action Plan to include equitable practices (see sample template from May Delegate Assembly) • Ensure that Equity is an ongoing agenda item • Conduct Equity Focus Groups • Appoint Equity Committee Charter Reps. • Effective level of communication about Equity Project work • Review and discuss equitable practices in by-laws and budget • Create/support equity networking events for diverse members • Develop a strong student charter • Ensure legislative advocacy • Encourage/outreach to diverse members’ for involvement in committees and councils • Commit to bringing a new/potential member to each ACSA event

35. My Equity Plan • Honestly access your current philosophy and belief system with regards to educational equity • Build your capacity as an educator-PD, collaboration, life long learner, have fun • Utilize a Cycle of Inquiry to address educational equity • Use data to address the issues • Utilize articles, research, and reflective materials to create discussions • Incorporate “Equity” as an ongoing agenda item in all meetings • Access the staff culture with regards to racial journey of staff • Empower the oppressed-i.e. student and parent voice • Implement systems that support equity: academics, school climate, and parent involvement.

36. As leaders of leaders, we must always stay aware of the reality of inequality and inequity for our students and leaders who are historically underprivileged and underserved. Let’s not be satisfied with just letting them see the game from behind the fence but to be a part of the game for us all to truly win!!!

37. Contact us • Kim Hendricks, EADS Chair • khendricks@mvusd.net • Nicole Anderson, Diversity and Equal Access Executive • nanderson@acsa.org • Sal Villasenor, Legislative Advocate • svillasenor@acsa.org Follow us on Twitter: @ndanderson and visit us at www.acsa.org/equity