Educational Equity & Inclusion The Vermont Superintendents Association’s mission is to support school leaders to improve the equity and quality of educational opportunities for all students. Equity Definition (VSA/VSBA) January, 2018 Educational equity means that each and every student receives the resources and educational opportunities they need to learn and thrive. Equity means that a student’s success is not predicated nor predetermined by characteristics such as race, ethnicity, religion, economics, class, geography, disability, language, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or initial preferences. Equity means that every school provides high quality curriculum, programs, teachers and administrators, extracurricular activities and support services. Equity goes beyond formal equality where all students are treated the same. Achieving equity may require an unequal distribution of resources and services. Equity involves disrupting inequitable practices, acknowledging biases, employing practices that reflect the reality that all students will learn, and creating inclusive multicultural school environments for adults and children. Diversity Equity and Inclusion in Student Activities from the Vermont Principals’ Association Ensuring that extracurricular activities provide a welcoming, inclusive, and safe environment is of utmost importance. The Vermont Principals’ Association administers and oversees this body of work in the state of Vermont and has provided a number of important resources for school districts and communities. The VPA expects the Intervention Framework to be utilized, including interventions steps such as the Pregame Statement to be read at each event with the corresponding possible interventions and restrictions fully applicable to schools and teams. All coaches and officials are required to complete the NFHS Implicit Bias Course The Reporting Form is open and active year round Data Analysis Summary (winter, 2022) VPA Guide to Good Sportsmanship (Released Fall 2022) VPA Sportsmanship Video (Released Summer 2023) Bench Bad Behavior Public Service Announcements from the NFHS VPA Student Activities Policies Anti-Hate Student Poster Announcement Statements/Policies/Updates Welcoming, Equitable & Antiracist Communities Update 12/7/22 Statement of Support on National Coming out Day 10/11/22 $50,000 in Equity Mini-Grants Awarded 4/7/22 Thank you to Outright VT for their partnership and leadership in the three part webinar series offered to VPA, VSA, and VSBA members in the 21-22 school year. Video of Equity Webinar from Insight Education Group, 3/3/22 VPA/VSA/VSBA Shared Statement on Critical Race Theory (9/20/21) Announcement of Collaborative Equity Grant (1/11/21) VSA, VSBA, VCSEA, VPA Joint Statement of Support for Outright Vermont (9/1/20) VSBA Model Equity Policy, Select “C29” under students recommended policies (July, 2020) VSA, VSBA, VPA Joint Statement Condemning Systemic Racism (6/2/20) Connecting Vermont Equity Coordinators: Beginning in March 2021, the VSA and VPA started a monthly drop-in for school or district employees who have the role of equity coordinator or a similar title. This space was an initial gathering for participants to shape and help lead collaboratively, now working together as the Vermont Educational Equity Collaborative (VEEC). Leading Equitable, Anti Racist, and Inclusive Education Communities: The Vermont School Boards Association (VSBA), the Vermont Superintendents Association (VSA), and the Vermont Principals’ Association (VPA) received a grant award of $150,000 from the Vermont Community Foundation and Barr Foundation. An initial advisory group reviewed the results member-driven needs assessment to identify meaningful, actionable goals for this resource. The advisory group was made up of: Alison Sylvester, VT-NEA Representative, Annsunee Swift, VPA Representative, Flor Diaz Smith, VSBA Representative, Mikaela Simms, Equity Coordinator Representative, Jess DeCarolis, AOE Representative, Amy Rex, VSA Representative, Kristin Hubert, VTCLA Representative, Jessica Spencer, VCSEA Representative, Xusana Davis, Executive Director of Racial Equity. Update: Welcoming, Equitable & Antiracist Communities Update (12/7/22) Act 1 of 2019 Working Group The VSA has actively participated in the Ethnic and Social Equity Standards Advisory Group (Act 1 of 2019) since its inception, which has led to a proposed update to the Educational Quality Standards expected to be adopted into formal rule in early 2024. Ongoing Professional Learning: Many of our ongoing offerings are directly linked to improving educational equity, inclusivity, and anti-racism in school communities. (view current offerings) Tools for Consideration Department of Education Releases LGBTQI+ Tool Kit (Fall, 2023) MAEC, Time to Act: Keeping Equity at the Center of Leadership–A Guide for Superintendents, Winter 2021 MAEC, Equity Audit Tool, Released Winter 2021 VT-AOE Equity Lens Tool & AOE Educational Equity Page Learning for Justice (formerly known as TeachingTolerance, searchable and updated bank of resources) Thank you to the Vermont Community Foundation, the McClure Foundation.