How strong are your structures for collaborating with students, families, and community members to shape your direction?
This practice looks at the way you communicate and develop meaningful and ongoing relationships with parents, families, and community leaders—especially those from non-dominant communities—to engage them in shaping educational processes and school improvement for equity.
1. Download and print the following worksheet which provides a paper activity that collects your responses and guides your next steps.
2. With your team, move thoughtfully through each entry on the rubric for this practice.
3. After reflection, discussion, and reaching consensus on each entry, choose the practice (listed on the rubric) that best represents the current state of practice in your school system or building ("where you are now").
4. next, write down your "evidence," by naming a few items that support your reasoning for the current state of practice you selected. (You don’t need to create a long list or add details.)
If your current state of practice needs work, this activity will help you identify the barriers that are hindering progress. If your status quo is proficient or exemplary, this activity will help you reflect on how you arrived there and may suggest best practices from your previous experience that will help you move toward equity in other areas.